Zomba District

WASH in Healthcare Initiative

Since 2016, Freshwater has teamed up with Engineers Without Borders USA and Xylem to upgrade and expand WASH systems at rural health centers across Malawi. This powerful collaboration, blending technical expertise with local knowledge and essential resources, enabled us to together develop a resilient, high-impact model that can be replicated to other regions.

Zomba District

We adopted a district-wide strategy, intentionally focusing our efforts on Zomba and its 23 health facilities to maximize impact and drive sustainable change.

By concentrating on one district, we ensured that our resources, expertise, and attention were dedicated, allowing us to build deeper relationships, understand local challenges, and tailor solutions accordingly.

Zeroing in on Zomba, we were able to make a tangible difference, strengthening the entire healthcare infrastructure of the district.

Institutional Capacity Building

Our goal was to empower the Zomba District Health Office with the systems and skills needed to assess, design, install, and maintain reliable, durable, and resilient WASH solutions across all rural health centers in the district.

This approach enabled us to create a model for success that can be scaled to other regions, ensuring that improvements in WASH systems are comprehensive, resilient, and replicable.

Program Components

  • Technical/Social Baseline Needs Assessments

  • Technical Design of WASH Systems

  • Water Source Development

  • Project Implementation Management

  • Preventative Care & Maintenance Training

  • Creation of Complete Technical Manual

  • Quality Control & Inspection

  • On-Demand Inspection and Maintenance