By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, May 8, Mana: Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Liana Kakhobwe Chapota has government was committed to ensuring that every Malawian has access to potable water and good sanitation in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6,

She said this Tuesday during the launch Dowa District Councils' 2024-2028 District Strategic Investment Plan (DSIP) for Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH).

'We are geared to ensure that as well as the Malawi 2063 which amongst others vies for potable water and sanitation for all.

"We want District Councils to align their initiatives to the policies and initiatives of the Ministry, so that they work hand in hand. We are therefore excited with this launch because this document has taken into consideration all these essential requirements," Chapota said.

She called all relevant stakeholders to put in concerted efforts to develop the sector.

The Deputy Minister said the launch marks a significant milestone in the council's commitment towards sustainable and Resilient WASH development for the District.

Chapota pointed that the Council should ensure full implementation of the plan saying the launch should not be the end towards its execution.

"In order to ensure that the Plan is operational, I request the District Council and all partners present to ensure that everyone knows about the plan and has access to it, all actors are aligned to it and report against it, and potential funders are approached and have committed to the plan.

" The Plan should be monitored and annually reviewed with all stakeholders for accountability, periodically updated, use the plan to influence annual planning and budgeting, and institutional capacity building for effective and sustainable implementation of the plan," she said.

Chairperson for Dowa District Council, Mayamiko Kambewa said the district was improving in terms of WASH and sanitation.

" We are currently at over 80 percent in terms of access to potable water for the population. In terms of open defecation, we only have 2 percent of the population still doing that.

"But in issues of sanitation, even if one person is not being hygienic enough, it might affect the whole village or community. So, we want to reach 100 percent in all these aspects," he said.

Kambewa urged all implementing partners in the district to align their work towards the plan and reach out to all communities including hard to reach ones.

The Plan was developed in collaboration with WASH players such as World Vision, Red Cross, Pump Aid, Beyond Water, Feed the Children, Beyond Water, Orant Charities and Self Help Africa.

Systems Manager for Self Help Africa, Joseph Kiambuthi said the Plan was home grown, and a product of an intensive and participatory process involving mapping of WASH access, developing a shared vision of universal WASH access, and identifying steps required over the fine years to deliver the joint vision.

"I would like to take this opportunity to confirm Self Help Africa and partners for their commitment to supporting government, the Ministry and District councils where we are working in to strengthen WASH systems to achieve sustainable WASH services," he added.

The WASH DSIP is to guide the council's implementation of activities in WASH and sanitation for the period and was launched under the theme “Delivering Sustainable and Resilient WASH Services for Productive Human Capital Development”.