European Investment Bank to invest in water, sanitation sector

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has disclosed that a total of 700 million Euros is already in the pipe line to support the water and sanitation sector in Zambia next year.

EIB Southern African and Indian Ocean Head of Division, Diederick Zambon has told Qfm News in an interview that water and sanitation is critical for Zambia’s social and economic development.

Mr. Zambon says it’s unfortunate that the majority Zambians still do not have access to clean drinking water hence the need for all stakeholders to step up efforts to improve the quality of drinking water.

He notes that access to clean water and adequate sanitation are critical in tackling factors related to child mortality and survival, especially given the prevalence of diarrhea and waterborne diseases and the role of sanitary health practices in preventative and sustainable responses.

Mr. Zambon says it is in this regard that it is important that people have safe water to avoid diseases such as Diarrhea which is a major cause of childhood illness and cholera an annual threat in both urban and rural areas due to recurrent flooding.

Statistics indicate that an estimated 4.8 million Zambians live without access to clean water and 6.6 million lack access to sanitation.

Report by Nancy Chenga