By Rahim Abdul
Despite setbacks from Cyclone Freddy, Blantyre District is showing strong recovery in water and sanitation access, thanks to collaborative efforts between government and development partners.
Blantyre District Council has recorded an 89 percent access rate to safe water and a 72 percent access rate to improved sanitation, according to figures shared during a WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) review meeting held on Tuesday.
Nelson Kumwenda, WASH Coordinator for Blantyre District Council, emphasized that the progress reflects joint efforts aimed at rebuilding damaged infrastructure and restoring essential services.
“The cyclone caused significant damage to our WASH infrastructure, reversing some of the gains made in previous years. However, support from our partners has enabled us to bounce back quickly, and we’re optimistic about the road ahead,” Kumwenda said.
He noted that while access to safe water is commendable, challenges still remain. Only 28 percent of households have access to handwashing facilities, and 72 percent still lack proper latrines leaving communities vulnerable to waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhoea.
Partners including IsraAid, Evidence Action, Fisherman’s Rest, Islamic Relief, and others presented their findings and action plans during the meeting.
Evidence Action’s Yamikani Phiri highlighted barriers such as myths about chlorine, theft of equipment, and non-functional water points as key issues stalling progress.
“To counter these issues, we’re introducing new chlorine collection sites, increasing awareness on chlorine use, and engaging community promoters to drive behavior change,” said Phiri.
The District Coordination Team has pledged to continue scaling up interventions, especially in hard-hit and underserved communities, to ensure that all residents have access to safe water and proper sanitation.
