Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage in Malawi: A Preliminary Consultative Study, 2012.
Ryan Rowe. Ministry of Health Department of Preventive Health Services; Ministry of Water Development and Irrigation Sanitation & Hygiene Unit
At a recent policy workshop, the Government of Malawi commissioned this report to review policies relating to HWTS, identify key stakeholders, assess baseline use, understand current production and marketing practices and distinguish the primary challenges and opportunities involved with increasing the use of HWTS in the country. This report aims to supply the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Water Development & Irrigation with crucial data that should enable them to make decisions about the development of a national strategy to scale up HWTS. The methods used in the preparation of this report include interviews, a literature review and two opportunities for stakeholders’ feedback.
This report recommends five key actions in order to enable scaling up HWTS. First, the government should finalise its national strategy on HWTS declaring its key priorities, guiding stakeholders and mobilising resources. Second, HWTS should be integrated with key national platforms; health services for pregnant women are a particularly viable option. Third, institutional support and sector coordination can be improved by harmonising existing policy, developing implementation guidelines and formulating product standards. Fourth, the implementation of the national chlorine stock solution programme needs to be strengthened. Fifth, efforts should be made to increase public awareness, while continuing consulting with stakeholders on how to further integrate HWTS.
