Improved sanitation can keep away diseases-Kufuna

Improved sanitation can keep away diseases-Kufuna

Chisamba, June 24, ZANIS—Government will remain dedicated to improving sanitation in peri-urban areas so that outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and dysentery are avoided.

Local Government Deputy Minister John Kufuna said diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea can only be avoided if sanitation levels were improved in most peri-urban areas.

Mr. Kufuna said it was in this vein that government has continued to involve key stakeholders in finding a lasting solution to standard approaches aimed at promoting sustainable sanitation services and hygiene practices.

ZANIS reports that the Deputy Minister was speaking in an interview in Chisamba today shortly after he opened a two day conference on sanitation under the theme “prioritising urban sanitation, targeting the urban poor”.

The workshop was organised by the Lusaka Water Sewerage Company (LWSC) and drew participants from major line ministries and members from the donor community.

And LWSC Managing Director George Ndongwe said the water utility company has embarked on an expansion project aimed at improving water supply to the ever growing population in the city.

Mr. Ndongwe however said the mushrooming of illegal settlements has posed a challenge for his company in terms of effective water supply.

Meanwhile, World Bank Sector Leader for Sustainable Development for Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe, Robin Mearns has commended Zambia for making strides towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on sanitation.

Mr. Mearns said the Zambian government has shown a strong commitment in improving sanitation through the prudent and transparency utilization of the sanitation global funds.