ADVANCING SAFE WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE IN MWENSE COMMUNITIES

Every community deserves the dignity of safe water, improved sanitation and good hygiene.

Today, Luapula Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (LpWSC), together with Unicef and the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation , undertook a field mission to Mwense District to appreciate progress under the KfW funded WASH Project, which is expanding access to safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene services across Luapula Province. The visit provided an opportunity to witness firsthand the impact these investments are having on communities and reaffirmed the value of strong partnerships in transforming lives.

The mission began in Kashiba Community, where UNICEF, in partnership with the Zambia Red Cross Society and Mwense Town Council, is supporting community led efforts to eliminate open defecation and promote improved hygiene practices. Through the dedication of community volunteers, traditional leaders and local authorities, households are embracing safer sanitation practices that protect public health and restore dignity. These collective efforts have helped the chiefdom achieve an impressive 93 percent sanitation coverage, marking significant progress towards attaining Open Defecation Free status.

One of the most inspiring moments of the visit was in Palangwa Village, where the delegation met an elderly couple living with disabilities who used funds received through the Social Cash Transfer Programme to construct their own household latrine. Previously, the couple relied on neighbours for access to sanitation facilities, often compromising their privacy and dignity. Today, they enjoy the independence and security of having a facility of their own, demonstrating how targeted social protection interventions can improve the wellbeing of vulnerable households.

The delegation also visited the Lukwesa Water Scheme, operated by Luapula Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited, which is earmarked for rehabilitation and network expansion. Once completed, the project will improve access to safe and reliable water services for the people of Lukwesa while strengthening service delivery by the utility.

The field mission further included a visit to a Constituency Development Fund supported water supply project in Lwamfwe, which is nearing completion. Once commissioned, the project will bring safe and reliable water services closer to the community, reflecting the Government's continued commitment to expanding access to clean water in rural areas.

Luapula Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited values the continued collaboration with UNICEF, the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, cooperating partners and local communities in advancing sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services across the province.

Together, we are building healthier, more resilient communities through lasting partnerships and a shared commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind.

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