By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, February 10, Mana: Chairperson for Dowa district council Mayamiko Kambewa has asked people in the district to observe good hygiene practices especially during this rainy season, to avoid the risk of outbreaks of water borne diseases.

He made the remarks on Friday in an interview when the council conducted a sweeping and cleaning exercise at the council, and also engaged in planting trees along Dowa-Dzaleka road, in observance of the National Clean Up Day which falls every first Friday of every new month.

“The idea of the exercise as initiated by the state president is to encourage and ensure that people are living and plying their businesses in healthy and safe surroundings. And as a council we heed this and encourage hygiene among the population.

“But we want to reiterate this call especially during this rainy season that people should not lose guard in observing good hygiene practices, because the risk of diseases like cholera is always high at this time of the year, so we do not want to see people suffering,” he said.

Kambewa said currently being a forestry season running until April, it was important to utilize the opportunity to also plant trees.

He said the trees which were planted from Dowa Boma to MANAC along the Dowa-Dzaleka road will help bring beauty to the boma in complement to other projects the council is implementing.

“Despite that, trees are also important to our hygiene as they provide us with fresh air which is crucial to our survival.  

“Therefore, I also ask people to spare time and plant trees in their communities because we cannot all manage to converge together all at once to plant trees or clean our environment, but everyone wherever they may be, must do the needful,” he said.

Bakayo Yohane Mtistsi who also took part in the exercise said it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure clean environments.

“It was very important for me to take part in this exercise because whatever happens to our environment directly affects me.

“If the environment is unclean, then I am also living in unhygienic environment. If it is clean, then am also living in a good environment. So, it is my duty to make sure the environment is clean for my own sake, my family’s sake, and for everyone’s sake,” said Mtistsi.

He therefore urged everyone to also make sure they always keep their environment clean.