Malawi Environmental Health Association has urged Tropical Cyclone Freddy survivors in evacuation camps to practise personal hygiene and sanitation to prevent the spread of diseases.

The association’s vice-president Peter Kamuloni said this on Wednesday at Komiha Village evacuation camp in Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba when they delivered a health talk on how to prevent diseases.

He said they noticed that 359 survivors at the camp, including eight pregnant women and 49 breastfeeding mothers, were facing water, sanitation and hygiene challenges.

Kamuloni (L) hands over blankets to a beneficiary

 Said Kamuloni: “There is no potable water and pit latrines at the camp, which poses a threat of waterborne diseases.

“The association felt duty-bound to support them with basic medical and non-medical items such as hypochlorite, soap, blankets and shoes.”

He further said some survivors at the camp sleep in the open due to lack of shelters, which exposes them to malaria due to mosquito bites.

“The association calls on well-wishers to provide sanitation and hygiene materials to survivors in camps to reduce health risks,” he said.

Komiha Village Civil Protection Committee chairperson Julita Maida said the floods washed away people’s crops and livestock.

“We want seeds to replant during winter,” he said.

Village head Komiha, whose village has two camps, said through other community structures, they were working hard to ensure people in camps practise personal hygiene.

Zomba District Council representative Innocent Mvula commended the association for sharing health tips with the survivors.

The association also conducted similar activities in Blantyre where they donated assorted items to St. Kizito, Mpemba and Lumbira camps

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