WesNet partners with media to advocates for achievement of SDG6: Water and Sanitation
Malawians continue facing problems in as far as accessing water which is life for all human being is concerned. This was revealed during a two day media training workshop which took place in Mponela, Dowa, where Water and Environmental Sanitation Network (Wesnet) appealed to members of the media to report more on issues to do with water and sanitation.
During the training Wesnet national coordinator, Chrispine Bokho told journalists that up to now water sector continue receiving low funding.
“For example water sector received K253Million last financial year and this year the water sector has received K255million, this money is not enough to address all challenges locking the sector. We are urging Government to pump in more resources to water sector since water is life,” Said Bokho.
Bokho said Sustainable Development Goals encourage team work.
He said the reports so far indicate that Malawi is 90 Percent water coverage in Malawi.
“Coverage and water access is different the real access to water remains low almost at 50 Percent.”
Bokho said the combination of Water and Agriculture has affected funding as well.
Principal Environmental Health officer who is also National ODF Taskforce Chairperson, Holystone Kafanikhale said the Ministry of Health is currently lobbying with the treasury for more funding.
Kafanikhale said currently government is spending K8 billion on treating diseases which comes due to lack of good Sanitation.
Currently water sector is being governed by a number of legal instruments.
These includes 2008 National sanitation policy, 2016 Environmental health policy, Water works act, and Government of Malawi uses a blend of approach to achieve access to water in line with SDG 6.2.
During the training Bokho urged government to do more in achieving Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 which talks about the need of achieving clean water and sanitation.
Bokho said media is an important tool in order for Malawi to achieve SDG 6.
“That is why we are appealing to you guys to join this advocacy by writing more stories,”
Bokho said it is worrysome to note that most Malawians especially those from the rural continue walking long distance in order to find water because 30 percent of boreholes are broken down.
Wes Net is a membership based CSO that coordinates the work of NGOs working in the water, sanitation and Hygiene sub sector in Malawi.
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