Today, September 26, 2024, MUBAS’ WASHTED joined the Malawi Environmental Health Association (MEHA) in engaging MUBAS Environmental Health Society (EH Society) in the commemoration of World Environmental Health Day with the rest of the global Environmental Health forums. This event was aligned with this year’s theme: “Environmental Health: Creating Resilient Communities through Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.” The event was marked by an anti-littering, anti-thin plastic campaign and a market cleaning exercise at Ndirande Market, in collaboration with Blantyre City Council.
The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of environmental health issues, particularly in relation to waste management, climate change, promotion of behaviour change against littering, and the use of thin plastics in Ndirande. We engaged the public through anti-littering placards and a roadshow that projected messages to raise awareness about proper waste disposal and the harmful effects of thin plastic use.Over 30 participants, which included staff from WASHTED, representatives from the Blantyre City Council, MUBAS Environmental Health students, members of MEHA, and market leaders’ representatives, took part in the cleaning exercise. The activities included sweeping and collection of waste from the market and surrounding areas.