By Rose Cross Mahorya

Mzuzu, March 26, Mana: WaterAid Malawi has appealed to stakeholders in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector to scale up efforts in prevention of Cholera which is one of the WASH challenges in the country.

Speaking in Mzuzu on Tuesday during presentation of findings on a study on prioritisation of funding in Cholera prevention, WaterAid Malawi Head of Policy and Communication, Chandiwira Chisi, noted that almost 50 percent of health challenges faced in the country are linked to WASH activities.

H said 50 percent of disease the country is struggling with are connected to the country’s failure to addres WASH situations.

“If we can identify permanent solutions to dealing with Cholera, most challenges faced by the health sector will be resolved.

“I do not believe that there are no resources because when we are hit with outbreaks, there is swift response. I think the challenge is that we are not giving priority to prevention hence failing to win this battle,” noted Chisi.

While assuring that as an institution, WaterAid Malawi will respond to recommendations from the findings through its Cholera prevention tailored programs, Chisi appealed to all stakeholders to work hand in hand to ensure prevention measures are scaled up.

WaterAid Malawi met with representatives from councils in the northern region so that they hear the outcome of the research and brainstorm on how best they can ensure that prevention of Cholera is given the importance it deserves.

Making his presentation, Joseph Thombozi of Institute for Policy Research and Social Empowerment, a consultant firm tasked to conduct the research, said aside poor funding in Cholera prevention initiatives, lack of stakeholder coordination and misplaced priorities in Cholera fight has made it hard to win the fight.

“There is shortage of staff who can enforce WASH activities on the ground like water monitoring officers.

“Political interference in allocation of WASH resources has also been a huge problem,” said Thombozi.

Thombozi appealed to government and stakeholders in WASH need to take advantage of the existence of some organisations implementing the activities in their districts and existing policies encouraging Cholera prevention.