Malawi’s First Lady, Getrude Mutharika, has called on citizens to uphold cleanliness and proper waste disposal to prevent hygiene-related diseases such as cholera, as she led a flood relief initiative in Lilongwe.
Speaking at Chilimampunga Ground in Mtandire on Saturday, Mutharika said promoting hygiene and environmental cleanliness remains a core objective of Beautify Malawi (BEAM), the organisation she leads, as the country faces recurrent disasters linked to heavy rains.
The First Lady was distributing relief items to families affected by recent floods, marking BEAM’s third such intervention this month following similar exercises in Area 44 in Lilongwe City and Nkhotakota District.
A total of 500 registered beneficiaries are each receiving 20 kilogrammes of maize flour, soya pieces, soap, salt and blankets, with the overall donation valued at more than K31 million.
Mutharika commended Mtandire-Mtsiriza Member of Parliament Alfred Gangata for taking a leading role in supporting affected communities, saying coordinated leadership is vital during times of crisis.
Gangata thanked the First Lady for responding to the needs of his constituency, noting that such assistance had not been provided during previous flood disasters in the area.
Senior Chief Njewa expressed gratitude to BEAM and local leadership for the swift response, describing the intervention as timely support to families struggling to recover from the impact of the floods.
