Demand for safe water in Malawi has compelled Evidence Action, an international organization advocating for access to clean water, to scale up installation of chlorine dispensers around water sources in the southern districts of the country from 3, 811 in 2021 to 16, 232 now under Safe Water Now project.

Country director for the organization in Malawi Benson Botha is reporting that the project which initially targeted 132, 325 households in Zomba district has been extended to nine more districts between 2021 to 2024 targeting over 2 million.

“We started with Zomba in 2013 but the success stories registered there coupled with demand for safe water compelled us to scale up to seven more districts namely Balaka, Chiradzulu, Blantyre, Mwanza, Neno, Machinga and Mangochi districts, between 2021 and 2023” he said.

Towards the end of 2024 Botha said the organization added two more districts of Phalombe and Ntcheu pushing the graph to 10.

“Our focus is providing health interventions and we noted that challenges being faced in the health sector are closely linked with poor access to safe drinking water resulting in outbreaks of water borne diseases,” explained Botha.

Over the period the organization, which is headquartered in Washington DC, working in Africa and Asia, has facilitated installation of chlorine dispensers and inland chlorination devices in the 10 districts.

Health authorities and beneficiary communities testify that the program has helped reduce cholera and diarrhea cases among over 2 million people benefitting from the water and sanitation project Evidence Action is implementing with funding from Give Well, à US based institution and other partners.

Records further show that in a year, around 500 deaths of under-five children emanating from unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation are now averted in the districts where the Safe Water Now project is being implemented.

Zomba, the first district to benefit from the project was identified since it used to be a hot spot district for cholera.

Studies conducted on borehole water quality in Malawi show that a significant number have high levels of contaminants, mostly fecal matter exceeding safe drinking water standards set by World Health Organization.

It is estimated that not less than 4 million of the population still lack access to safe water in Malawi but the ministry of water and sanitation is optimistic on meeting the Sustainable Development Goal for universal access by the year 2030.

Some of the measures Evidence Action is implementing to ensure that the gains achieved so far in the 10 districts are sustained include raising awareness on behavior change regarding water, sanitation and hygiene.

“We are also mobilizing resources and discussing with district councils to take up the responsibility of supplying beneficiary communities with chlorine,” said Botha.

Communities on the other hand are also encouraged to identify two promoters from within the beneficiary communities to oversee availability of the chlorine.

Each water facility used by a minimum of 12 households  on average requires two gallons of chlorine every month, thus according to Program Manager, Moses Chisangwale.

Unlike in urban settings, Chisangwale said rural communities in Malawi lag behind on access to water treatment services exposing them to water borne diseases and other risks associated with drinking contaminated water.

Malawi parliament in 2013 approved a bill ordering establishment of the National Water Resources Authority which is mandated to regulate sources of water such as boreholes by issuing licenses to those drilling and managing the facilities.