By Blackson Mkupatira

Dedza, August 14, Mana: Dedza District Commissioner (DC), Thomas Chigwenembe, says it is pleasing to see that people are now taking ownership of the sweeping exercise in the district.

Speaking Friday when the council conducted a sweeping exercise at Chimbiya Trading Centre, Chingwenembe said this is a positive development as it will prepare the district to prevent cholera and diarrhea outbreaks.

"We have noted that nowadays people are organising themselves to clean their surrounding without the council's involvement which is good.

"Let us not wait for the rainy season to start practicing good hygiene but to continue with these cleaning activities so that our environment could be clean at all times," he said.

While commending civil society organizations for their participation in the exercise, the DC appealed to Members of Parliament, councilors, chiefs and other local leaders to champion the exercise in their areas.

Malawi red Cross Society Project Officer for Cholera Emergency Response project in Dedza, James Kachidiku said everyone should not take the exercise lightly as it is important in preventing outbreaks of deadly diseases such as cholera.

"It is very important especially for our markets to be clean because they are a place where people gather and can easily spread diseases, which is why the council should put measures to promote the exercise in such places," he said.

Chimbiya Trading Centre Market Chairperson, Lorent Kainja said because of the Cholera outbreak that affected the area recently, people have received the initiative with two hands and are willing to participate fully.