Health minister Jappie Mhango said this at Ngabu in Chikwawa on Wednesday where people celebrated achievement of Open Defecation Free status.

Minister Mhango observed that rapid population has actually overtaken the economy hence the social economic challenges people are facing.

“If we look at the size of the country and economy, there is a mismatch. Let us have children that we are able to take care of,” he said.

Mhango commended people of the area he visited for drastically reducing defecating in bushes by increasing the presence and use of toilets.

“People must have toilets in order to prevent water borne diseases like cholera,” he said hoping that people under five more traditional authorities would emulate the example.

World Vision Malawi Director of Programs, Charles Chimombo said: “We have been working here since 1999 implementing various projects including Agriculture and food security, Education, Health and Nutrition and Water and sanitation”.

He added that it was not easy for the area to achieve this considering that cyclone Idai which hit the area and other parts of the country damaged damaged about 9,000 toilets there.

Senior Chief Ngabu asked his subjects to maintain the good hygiene practices especially this time of the rainy season to overcome cholera.

The event which was attended by various organizations like Water for People, government officials and others was spiced up by traditional dances, songs,  and drama.