WaterAid says through the 150 Health Facility Challenge it has fully equipped 11 healthcare centers in Ntchisi district with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities to assist in promoting hygiene as well as infection prevention.
The healthcare centres that have been equipped with the WASH facilities include; Ntchisi District Hospital, Nkhuzi, Mndinda, Khuwi and Kangolwa Health Centres and they have been equipped with WASH facilities such as; solar powered water supply system, incinerators and modernized refuse pits among other facilities.
Speaking on Monday after visiting Mndinda Health Centre, WaterAid Programmes Officer, Laston Zungu said that as an organisation their target is to reach out 75 healthcare centres with WASH facilities across the country.
“We have committed to lobby for funding to support 75 of the 150 health facilities as other players in the sector will take up the remaining 75 health facilities, so far we have managed to get funding to support 60 healthcare facilities across the country,” Zungu said.
He added that, with funding from Giorgio Arman, Acqua for Life, they are looking forward to reach out 15 health facilities with the improved WASH facilities under the 150 Health Facility Challenge.
According to him, their mission is to make sure that all targeted health facilities have improved WASH facilities that would help infection prevention and promote good hygiene among healthcare workers, patients and guardians.
He also said that, through the 150 Health Facility Challenge on their part as WaterAid they are also providing training to technical staff in the health facilities that are responsible for providing technical works especially plumbing.
In his comment, Mndinda Maternity Nurse In-charge, Blessious Kamwanja applauded WaterAid for supporting his hospital with WASH facilities.
“Before the WASH facilities were provided here at our hospital we were facing various challenges, for example at Maternity ward women were struggling to access water for bathing after giving birth.
“But now with the coming of water supply system by WaterAid, they have access to water to take care of themselves and we are grateful to WaterAid for its gesture,” Kamwanja said.
