THE long awaited Lusaka, water supply, sanitation and drainage (LWSSD) project under the Millennium Challenge Account Zambia Limited (MCA-Zambia) has commenced with the initial contract for the construction of new drainages signed last week.
MCA-Zambia has contracted Construções Gabriel A.S. Couto, SA to construct and rehabilitate more than 2.6 kilometres of drainage in Mazyopa settlement, which is located downstream the Ngwerere River, at a cost of US$17.2million.
The $355million project is funded by the United States (US) government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in partnership with the Zambian Government.
According to MCA-Zambia board chairperson Fredson Yamba, the completion of the Bombay drain will ease the flow of water downstream, thereby reducing flooding in the capital city and affected areas.
US Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz has said the MCC compact is emblematic of the strong and growing bilateral relations between the United States and Zambia.
Mr Shultz noted that the Mazyopa construction works have been added to the list of compact activities because MCC firmly believes that a US Government investment in one geographic area should not have a negative impact in another geographic area.
This platform fully supports the LWSSD project as over one million people in Lusaka are assured of expanded access to improved reliability of water supply and sanitation including improved drainage
facilities.
This week, my write-up stems from the point of emphasising that investment in water supply, sanitation, and drainage infrastructure is the ultimate way of eliminating the incidence and prevalence of water-related diseases.
The water borne disease burden has been heavy on the country leaving a negative impact on the life expectancy as diarrhoeal diseases have continued to claim life.
At a recent meeting of the Lusaka epidemics preparedness, prevention, control and management committee, it was learnt that the city recorded 279 cases of typhoid resulting in one death.
The cause was poor access to clean and safe water, inadequate sanitation and poor food safety.
During its phased execution, the LWSSD will tackle the challenge of providing access to clean and safe drinking water in high density areas like Chawama, Kanyama, Kabwata and Chongwe.
This platform has noted with concern the unsanitary and inadequate water supply in public places such as markets, bus stations and even schools and colleges.
We have seen even students in higher institutions of learning rioting due to inadequate water supply while their colleagues have suffered from waterborne diseases.
Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) needs to rope in more partners in ensuring access to clean and safe water is enhanced.
There is talk that the city may at one point have insufficient water supply as the resource tables are affected.
However one would only satisfied to know that LWSC has worked out some interventions to ensure a lesser impact on members of the public.
Measures such as washing hands after using the toilet, washing fruits and vegetables adequately before consumption, disinfecting water with chlorine or adequate boiling, should be adhered to by the public as a way to curb water-borne diseases.
Government agencies should collectively support the LWSSD programme so that it was completed within the stipulated period of time.
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