3 in 5 people in Nkhata Bay North contract waterborne diseases each year. The main water sources that serve the lakeshore communities are contaminated by human activity. Nonetheless, people use these to drink, wash, farm, and fish. Lack of basic hygiene knowledge, exacerbated by misinformation, results in poor hygiene practices such as open defecation. Many struggle to access handwashing and toilet facilities. The area receives little to no health service support from government or other NGOs.

Our approach has been hugely successful in reducing waterborne diseases through simple but effective, portable water filters. The filters work alongside community engagements on issues such as personal hygiene and open defecation to encourage mindset and behaviour change. We work with and through local governance structures so that they can take a lead in improving Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) awareness and services in their own areas.