MHEN condemns Lilongwe water contamination

The Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) has expressed dismay over the mixing up of Lilongwe Water Board’s (LWB) piped water with sewage at Area 18 in Lilongwe.

This is according to a press statement released on Wednesday and signed by MHEN board chairperson Edward Chileka Banda and Executive Director George Jobe.

The contamination occurred on Tuesday after one of the water supply pipes in Area 18 burst underground and near the vicinity, a broken sewer system was emitting sewer water which slipped into the water supply pipe.

MHEN in the statement says this is a gross violation of human rights as it touches on human life and is a health hazard.

“Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights dictates that ‘Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person’.

“This conduct in our opinion emanates from recklessness and lack of regard to ensure close monitoring and checking of the functioning of the water boards pipes from time to time,” reads part of the statement.

The health non-governmental organisation has also demanded authorities to probe the issue as it raises a lot of unanswered questions.

“MHEN wants to know who was negligent, Lilongwe Water Board or the City of Lilongwe? For how long was the sewer system damaged and not maintained?
For how long was the water pipe damaged and not maintained?

“The board further wants to know if the sewer system has been maintained as well. What health measures will be carried on people of the concerned location(s)? Any medical people to visit the households concerned?” says the statement.

The organisation also notes in the statement that it is common in most towns and cities for damaged sewer to take time to be maintained.

MHEN is an independent, non-profit making alliance of over 90 civil society organizations in the health sector interested in promoting equitable access to quality, affordable and responsive healthcare services in Malawi.