By Maston Kaiya

Ntcheu, November 23, Mana: Water Mission on Thursday commissioned a MK 170 million reticulated solar powered piped water project in the area of Traditional Authority Chakhumbira in Ntcheu district.

Water Mission Country Director Nixon Sinyiza said his organization sole purpose is to provide sustainable access to safe and portable water to communities in need by installing water treatment systems and basic distribution networks.

"With funding from McKinnon family of the United States of America, Water Mission has installed a reticulated solar powered safe water system at Chugodi health facility which is anticipated to serve a population of 2000 people," said Sinyiza.

He disclosed that his organisation has installed 85 water systems across Malawi in the last ten years benefiting around 600,000 Malawians.

Sinyiza advised all stakeholders to take ownership of the systems and to take good care of the systems.

Traditional Authority Chakhumbira admitted that water is one of the major challenges in his area and hailed the development which he described as timely.

"Since this is rainy season, we expect this development to reduce water related diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea in my area," said Chakhumbira and assured all stakeholders that the systems will be properly looked after.

Chigodi Health facility-in-Charge Kondwani Chitungu said the development is a sigh of relief for the facility which has over 18,000 people.

"Water is very crucial in our operations, this is a very commendable development which will reduce cases of water related diseases that are reported at Chigodi health center," said Chitungu and urged Water Mission to extend the system to other areas.

Chigodi health center, Chigodi primary school and Kalaka Day Secondary School are among the beneficiaries of the McKinnon initiative in the district.