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Thyolo District Council Calls for District Hospital Water Bill Bailout

 I will take it up - Mia (right) I will take it up - Mia (right) - pic by Luka Beston

Thyolo District Council has asked the Ministry of Water and Sanitation to intervene in settling the accrued K70 million water debt that the district hospital owes the Southern Region Water Board (SRWB).

The council's chairperson, George Matiya, said for a long time, they have tried all avenues to settle the bill but to no avail; hence, a call for a cancellation or a bail out from government.

"We are struggling with the bill. Other councils their bills have been assisted by the government, either cancelled or paid through other means from the ministry. So I have asked the same if the could do us a favor as well," he asked.

Similarly, Thyolo District Director of Health Services, Dr. Arnold Jumbe, while indicating that the cholera epidemic is now under control in the district, corroborated that intermittent water supply and the bill are affecting health issues such as, cholera outbreak.

Dr Jumbe said: "The bill is affecting some activities at the hospital because as the facility we need water every second that’s why we are requesting that we should be redeemed from this debt," he corroborated.

The two made the call on Wednesday when the responsible minister, Abida Mia appreciated the cholera interventions in the district.

Mia pledged: "I have heard what they had to say. I have to discuss with the Ministry of Health, Finance and the water board because it involves cross-sectors to how we can ease the burden."

She has, however, hailed the district council for the cholera efforts which have helped to reduce the daily cholera figures from around 50 some two weeks ago, to 18 as of Tuesday.

Mia who was accompanied by officials from the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and Cholera, disclosed that government has so far received over $30 million from various partners after President Lazarus Chakwera launched the Tithetse Kolera/Covid-19 campaign last month.

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