Community Development Spearheading the WASH Project

Mr Singa Kamanga is the Village Development Committee (VDC) chair of Mchulu Village, living with his wife and four children in northern Malawi near the town of Usisya.

In 2017, Usisya reported cases of waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera because many community members were not aware of water and sanitation measures. Only a few had access to latrines and clean water and were thus many reported cases of illness.

Through Temwa’s support in distributing water filters which were sold at a subsidy price of k5,000 (about £3.50), the WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) committee have now collected k1,050,000 (about £750). However, an overview of the WASH clinic costs is about k6,000,000. The committee have made efforts by reaching out to well-wisher and writing proposals to community members outside Usisya for support.

The target was for 455 households to have water filters, however, only 210 water filters were delivered, leaving some households without access to clean water. Seeing this problem, Mr Kamanga took action and called for a meeting with Temwa.

The community are now adopting the WASH initiatives set by Temwa, reducing the cases of waterborne diseases by providing clean water. With this support from Temwa, Mr Kamanga and community members have now mobilised themselves to begin constructing an under-5 Clinic for children.

“The WASH project has been so beneficial to us, we have managed to realise money which we plan to construct an under 5 clinic. I want children to be frequently supported with medical care and for women and guardians not to walk long distances when taking the children to the hospital.” Said Mr Kamanga.

“Temwa needs to support us with more filters so that we sell and add money for the construction of the clinic.”

The clinic construction plan is to be completed by April next year!

The Importance of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Temwa’s WASH project provides simple ceramic water filters to protect people from waterborne diseases. Families pay a contribution towards the filters, which can then be reinvested in other community health initiatives. Alongside this we also deliver hygiene education and build demonstration latrines within each community we support so that families can replicate in their own homes.

Read more about this project in our latest report here.