By Mcloyd Chilangiza:
Only 10 percent out of 100 Malawians wash hands with soap during five critical moments, Water and Sanitation Minister Abida Mia has disclosed.
The ministry indicates that the critical moments for handwashing are: before, during, and after preparing food; before and after eating food; before and after caring for someone who is sick and is either vomiting or has diarrhea at home; before and after treating a cut or wound; after using the toilet; and after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet.
Mia said this at Chilimampunga ground in Lilongwe’s Mtandire area, where Malawi commemorated Global Handwashing Day.
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“It is critical that people must be observing personal hygiene by washing their hands with soap to contain the further spread of cholera.
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“We are here to let people know that waterborne diseases are spreading by practices such as failure to wash hands with soap when people have used the toilet, when they have changed nappies and when they are about to eat because it’s natural that most people forget to wash their hands when coming from the toilet,” Mia said.
She further asked Lilongwe Water Board to increase its water supply outlets, saying that would help the government directly respond to Sustainable Development Goal Number 3, which promotes health and wellbeing for all by preventing the spread of waterborne diseases that spread through poor handwashing practices as well as saving resources that would be channeled to other development priorities.
Pump Aid Beyond Water Country Manager Symon Msukwa urged the citizenry to take a leading role in disseminating information so as to control the manifestation of waterborne diseases.
“My key message is that all of us should take responsibility to reach out to the next person with messages around the key hygiene practices, such as when exactly to wash hands, so that we can save lives,” Msukwa said
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Msukwa added that they are increasing the functionality of water points in rural areas so that there is enough water for hand washing.
On his part, Lilongwe City West legislator George Zulu asked the minister to consider increasing water access points in his area, saying people in the rural part of the area are struggling to access clean and potable water .
Global Handwashing Day is observed on October 15 globally but the country scheduled it for October 26 as it observed Mothers’ Day on the stated date.
As at August 2023, Malawi had recorded a total of 58,982 cholera cases and 1,768 deaths.
