The Lilongwe Water Board has today presented advance water tokens amounting to MK14,400,000 with the capacity of 5,303,880 litres of water to seven secondary schools located in Lilongwe City and peri-urban areas.
“Lilongwe Girls Secondary School which has received MK4,000,000, Dzenza Secondary School has received MK2,400,000 with Chipasula, Chinsapo, Bwaila, Mkwichi and Kabwabea Secondary Schools receiving a token of MK1,600,000 each respectively” reads part of their statement
Speaking when presenting the token, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Hon Abida Sidik Mia commended the Board for the initiative whilst emphasizing the need for the schools follow the standards operating procedures that have been developed as preventive and containment measures for the disease.
The statement also quoted Board Chairperson for the Lilongwe Water Board Inkosi Ya Makhosi Mbelwa V who indicated that the presentation of the advance water tokens to the schools is part of the Board’s Cholera preventive strategy whose main pillar is to provide access to potable water to residents of Lilongwe City and surrounding areas.
He further explained that LBW was being responsive to the requirements of tbe Ministry of Education as the Ministry was preparing to open schools in Lilongwe following the announcement by the cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre can noe be opened.
The Boards response is in line with the presidential Task force which urged for a multisectoral approach and a joint working relationship in mitigating the diseases.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Director for Secondary Education, Dr. Florida Banda expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and Lilongwe Water Board for the water tokens as access to potable water is key to Cholera prevention.