The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Abida Mia has expressed the need of empowering women across Africa in order to address challenges faced in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
Mia made the appeal on wednesday during the official launch of Professional Women in Water Sector Network – PROWIWS which was held at Bingu International Convention Centre-BICC in Lilongwe.
Mia said women are the most vulnerable interms of challenges regards to to WASH issues hence a need to empower them in order to improve Water accessibility in the communities.
She said that most of the times, women in rural areas are harrased and sometimes abused as they wake up early in the morning fetching Water therefore, a need to empower them.
As women, when we have other women that we know that they are capable and have technical knowledge and are educated enough to lead a certain department, give them that opportunity to lead. Don’t pull them down, dont be jelous and as women, we need to grow and we need to support each other for the better “, said Mia.
In her remarks, PROWIWS President in Malawi, Phideria Moyo lamented that women should be in the forefront taking lead in addressing water challenges.
She said that Africa wide, only 16% form part of Women leaders an issue that is worrisome.
She cited that culturally, the burden of fetching Water rise with a woman but interms of decision making women take a back seat.
“Water Affairs affects more a woman but interms of decision making you will find that a woman takes a back seat hence miss the element of ferminehood at time of Innovations or solutions that are developed”, said moyo.
Moyo then emphasized on the need that women should be part and parcel in decision making in order to facilitate the production of Innovation that are sustainable and userble for a long time in WASH sector.
