The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Media Forum has stepped beyond its traditional reporting role by actively contributing to improved sanitation in public health facilities.

 

During a clean-up exercise at Bwaila Hospital, conducted in partnership with CTS Courier, the forum demonstrated its commitment to tackling hygiene challenges affecting hospitals across the country.

 

As part of the initiative, the forum donated assorted items to the maternity wing and cholera camp, including 15 hand sanitizers and 30 handwashing water buckets, with support from WaterAid.

 

WASH Media Executive Member Patrick Kachere said the intervention follows the forum’s findings of critical gaps in hygiene and sanitation in public hospitals.

 

“We realized that reporting alone is not enough. As journalists, we felt compelled to take part in practical solutions that can improve health outcomes,” he said.

 

Bwaila Hospital Principal Health Promotion Officer Richard Mvula welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely, especially following the President’s directive to improve sanitation in public institutions.

He noted that the donated materials will strengthen the hospital’s capacity to prevent the spread of diseases, including cholera.

 

CTS Courier General Manager Josephy Manda emphasized the importance of partnerships in addressing public health challenges.

“Maintaining proper hygiene standards in hospitals is critical in preventing disease outbreaks, and collaborations like this are key,” he said.

 

The initiative highlights a growing shift where media practitioners are not only informing the public but also playing a direct role in driving community change.

 

By Monica Chinyama Lipiya