Written Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer
The Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), a relief and developmental arm of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has handed over 120 household pit latrines; 50 school latrines, 15 new boreholes and rehabilitated 50 boreholes to communities around Traditional Authorities (TAs) Tengani and Mlolo in Nsanje district.
This is in line with a one year Cholera preparedness and response project which CADECOM has been implementing with financial support from Jersey Overseas Aid and States of Guernsey through Oxfam.
Among others, the project which phases out was aimed at enhancing cholera risk reduction and preparedness through support to improved access to portable water.
His Lordship, Bishop Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese officially handed over the facilities to communities at a colorful event held at Nyamithuthu Primary School in Nsanje.
According to Bishop Musikuwa, Hygiene and Sanitation is one of the priorities in a number of global strategies and goals aimed at improving livelihoods of poor communities.
“For instance, in analyzing Malawi’s current development status and future prospects, water stands out as one of the key issues around which the discourse revolves. For a resource as critical as water, it is only inevitable that it lies at the core of efforts that seek to put Malawi on a sustainable development path,” he said.
He said in total, the project has reached out to 6000 direct households in the two TAs of Mloro and Tengani with water, hygiene and sanitation interventions.
“We, at CADECOM, through the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) exist because of our commitment to holistic evangelization through teaching the Word of God and facilitating development work. We are driven by the call that people should have life and have it to the fullest (John 10:10). It is against this background that we seriously reflected on supporting the affected communities access water and sanitation,” said Bishop Musikuwa.
His Lordship then challenged community members who will be using these facilities to ensure that the facilities are well taken care of hence School Committees, Water Point Committees, the Area Development Committees and Village Development Committee and the community at large should be responsible to ensure that the facilities are used sustainably.
Taking his turn,Oxfam Country Director,John Makina commended CADECOM for successfully implementing the project and at the same time hailed the communities for effectively contributing towards the projects.
The representative of the District Commissioner for Nsanje district, Martin Chiwanda also commended CADECOM for ensuring that communities in district are well taken care of in terms of water and sanitation.
In total, the project reached out to 6000 direct households with a total amount of K110 Million being spent.