UCAHP pens health minister on water tax
The Union of Clinicians and Allied Health Professionals (UCAHP) has written the Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, asking her to liaise with responsible authorities to scrap off tax on water.
The union argues that poor Malawians are having problems to access clean water with the 52% tax effected on November 1, 2021.
The health professionals observe that water borne diseases are common during the rainy season and denying many people clean water will result in the people using water that is a health hazard.
Leader of the union, Davies Mtotha, told the local media that clean water is scarce among poor people at the moment, adding that health facilities will have problems assisting so many patients this time around when there is already Covid-19 among us.
“Water has now become a scarce commodity in Malawi because prices are very high. This time around, water borne diseases are very common. Something ought to be done,” lamented Mtotha.
Mtotha added that having high tax on water was a punishment to poor Malawians in as far as their health is concerned.
The Ministry of Health has not yet commented on the letter but says it is ready to deal with water borne diseases that come up during the rainy season by ensuring that there are enough drugs in hospitals.
Research by the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that 52% of all diseases globally are a result of poor hygiene and use of unclean water.
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