Permanent Secretary for Administration in the Office of the Vice President, Lillian Kapusana, has urged stakeholders in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) to scale up sanitation interventions countrywide in order to break the cycle of malnutrition.

Ms Kapusana has observed that poor access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene is undermining Zambia’s efforts to fight malnutrition.

ZANIS reports that the Permanent Secretary said this in a speech read for her by Yande Kakusa, Director of Planning and Information in the office of the Vice President at the WASH for Nutrition conference in Lusaka.

Ms Kapusana stated that 32% of children under five were suffering from stunting partly due to inadequate WASH services in the country.

“Addressing WASH conditions is as critical as improving food security and access to nutrition. Without safe water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene, efforts to reduce malnutrition will remain ineffective,” Ms. Kapusana stated.

The Permanent secretary pointed out that 58% of Zambians still lack access to improved sanitation and that many rural communities rely on unsafe water sources, weakening the impact of nutrition programs.

Meanwhile Luapula Province Principal Nutritionist, Fred Chalula, stressed the need for better coordination among stakeholders in addressing water and sanitation issues.

And Assistant Director in the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, Ulanda Nyirenda, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening WASH services across Zambia.

The WASH for Nutrition conference serves as a platform for experts and stakeholders to devise actionable solutions aimed at reducing malnutrition through improved water, sanitation, and hygiene services.