Neno DC urge residents to practice hygiene

District Commissioner (DC) for Neno, Rosemary Nawasha, has urged communities in the district to continue adhering to good sanitation and hygiene practices to contain the spread of cholera and other water and foodborne diseases.

Speaking Friday during a clean-up-exercise campaign at Chikonde Market, Nawasha said keeping the surrounding clean was crucial to contain waterborne diseases like cholera which is rampant during the rainy season.

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“It was important for us to observe the day to prevent diseases that are spread due to unhygienic practices so we want to make sure that our surroundings including the market are clean so that we prevent diseases like cholera,” Nawasha said.

She said the exercise was conducted following president Lazarus Chakwera launch of the national clean-up campaign in 2020 to enhance sanitation and hygiene among Malawians and Tithetse Cholera campaign which was launched in February 2024 aimed at promoting good hygiene practices in a bid to end cholera.

The DC added that the council decided to clean the market place because it is the hub where a lot of people meet to buy various merchandise.

She therefore, asked the residents to also make sure that their homes are clean and tidy to contain the spread of diseases so that they contribute to the development of the district.

Nawasha pledged that the campaign will be observed every month to make sure that the workplace, market, homes and surroundings are clean.

Environmental Officer for Neno, Sungani Chilenje said the council will soon open Mbemba waste yard so that all the waste from Zalewa, Chifunga, Kamwamba and Chikonde Market should be dumped there to enhance sanitation.

“In two or three months’ time, we will be opening Mbemba Waste Yard for use as funds have been provided from Governance to enable Service Delivery (GESD)for us to complete works,”

Neno is one of the district which was hit hard by cholera as it registered 784 cases cumulatively with 10 deaths. Zalewa, Midzemba, Luwani and Lisungwi were the most affected areas.