“For millions of children today, particularly in Africa, the biggest health challenge is to survive until their fifth birthday, and their chances of doing so are less than they were a decade ago.”
Director –General, World Health Org. World Health Report 2003.
What is WASHTED?
Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is a fundamental right and condition of basic health. Provision of these is a priority of the Malawi Poverty Reduction Programme. At present, water supply coverage in Malawi is 32% in rural and 80% in the urban areas. Sanitation is judged to be adequate for only 6% of Malawians, most of whom live in urban areas. Poor water and sanitation provision is one of the reasons why the country’s health indicators are among the worst in the world.
To address these problems, a Centre for Water, Sanitation, Health and Appropriate Technology Development (WASHTED) was established at the University of Malawi on 11th April 2003. It is a semi autonomous unit within the Faculties of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The Centre aims to build capacity in the field of Water Supply, Sanitation, Health, and Appropriate Technology Development in Malawi. The Centre is headed by a Director who is answerable to a Steering Committee (SC). The composition of the SC is made up of representatives from a range of national and international collaborating partners.
Some staff of WASHTED. From left to right: Mr. Ishmael Kosammu, Mrs. F. Mwale, Dr. Geoffrey Chavula (current director) and Prof. Victor Chipofya (former director)
About WASHTED 
