Nsanje Social Cash Transfer Beneficiaries Empowered in Cholera Fight

Part of the Cinema shows Part of the Cinema shows - pic by Alfred Guta

Centre for Development Communications (CDC) is taking cholera prevention messages to social cash transfer beneficiaries in Nsanje district.

CDC is driving the point home by among other things conducting cinema shows through which communities are being encouraged to construct latrines and follow good sanitation and hygiene practices.

“We are empowering the communities to construct latrines focusing on cholera prevention. We are targeting them because they have cash which they can utilize to construct the latrines. They can only enjoy life if they are healthy,” explained Gabriel Tengani, CDC District Facilitator.

He added, “You know Nsanje is one of the districts affected by cholera.”

Magadala Letasi, aged 40, from the area of Traditional Authority Ngabu in the district, has hailed the intervention saying, “they have shown us the dangers of open defecation. I will practice what I have leant accordingly.”

The district’s Health Promotion Officer, George Mbotwa, says “CDC is supporting us in the fight against cholera by briefing radio listening clubs and monitoring how they are doing, conducting mobile van awareness camps but also cinema shows.

“They are utilizing social cash transfer meetings, giving health talks. So far a lot is being done to win the fight much as we still have a way to go,” explained Mbotwa.

He further told Zodiak Online, “So far the district has recorded 443 cases of cholera with 16 deaths, two cases still active at Nsanje DHO and in the Eastern Bank.

He attributed most of these cases to poor hygiene, citing drinking unsafe water or drinking from unsafe sources, poor sanitation in the communities with very low latrine coverage.

CDC has been taking Cinema shows to communities in the areas including those of Traditional Authorities Chimombo and Ndamera with financial support from Unicef.

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