Malawi: save money, invest in sanitation
Credit: WaterAid / Suzanne Fenwick
As part of the campaign to tackle the global crisis in sanitation, the WES NGO network, a network of NGOs involved in the water and sanitation sector in Malawi, is lobbying the Malawian Government to support the promotion of sanitation in the country's national development process.
In Malawi, as in many other countries in the developing world, diarrhoea contributes enormously to the high infant mortality rate, even though the simple act of disposing safely of faeces leads to a reduction of nearly 40% in childhood diarrhoea.
On 19 November, World Toilet Day, the network highlighted economic benefits of investing in sanitation. They pointed to the fact that money saved on treating sicknesses brought about by a lack of safe sanitation such as diarrhoea would outstrip the costs of investment in sanitation.
Studies have shown that no "no single policy intervention brings greater public health returns than sanitation", the UN Human Development Report estimates that a dollar invested in sanitation brings $9 return.
While the network appreciates the efforts of the Malawian Government to improve sanitation in the country, particularly the development of a National Sanitation Policy, and welcomes its on-going process of developing sanitation policy, they are calling for: speedy completion of the process and urge adoption and full implementation as a matter of urgency.
In particular, they are calling for:
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The setting up of a dedicated Sanitation Directorate within one of the key sector ministries to provide strategic leadership and to manage implementation of sanitation activities.
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A speedy review of existing regulatory frameworks related to sanitation and a comprehensive act that will ensure coherence and harmonisation of different legislation on sanitation in Malawi.
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The strengthening of local government capacity to coordinate and implement sanitation at the district and community level.
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Priority to be given to promotion of user-friendly technologies, especially to the physically challenged and girls in schools, most of whom drop out because of inadequate sanitation facilities.
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Creation of a dedicated budget line for sanitation, starting from the next financial year.
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A government review of current sanitation coverage figures, in particular the means in which they are produced. Presently, it is said that access to improved sanitation coverage is 84%. We regard this as gross exaggeration that masks the reality. Our view, which is based on field experience is that access to improved sanitation in Malawi is much lower, around 35%.
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All authorities, particularly the National Statistics Office (NSO), must take advantage of the Integrated Household Surveys of 2008 and consider the parameters of safe sanitation as presented in the draft sanitation policy. Toilets that do not fit the parameters should not be counted as safe sanitation.
WES NGO network members
WaterAid, Water for People, CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, Work for Rural Health, Targeted National Relief and Development (TANARD), Training Support for Partners (TSP).