THE provision of clean water and proper sanitation in human settlements is essential in ensuring a disease-free habitation.

It is, therefore, important that all human settlements, particularly those in the high-density areas, are provided with clean and safe water and suitable sanitation to make lives of people comfortable.

We, thus, agree with Local Government and Housing ministry Permanent Secretary, Joel Ngo that the provision of such an essential commodity requires coordinated efforts from the Government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders.

As Mr Ngo said, the Government could not effectively implement the water and sanitation programme if there were no supplementary efforts from stakeholders.

It is befitting that the Government and nine cooperating partners yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the national rural water supply and sanitation programme (NRWSSP).

We hope that with such a feat, water supply and sanitation in the rural and other areas will improve.

The outlying areas of Zambia have not had the best water supply system as water infrastructure has not been developed as compared to the urban setting.

As we get closer to the rainy season, the country requires an improved sanitation system to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera.

In preventing waterborne diseases, hygiene is the starting point. High standards of hygiene can only be maintained if there is a steady supply of clean water and a proper sanitation system.

However, it is sad that the proliferation of unplanned settlements in many areas has made it difficult for utility and other firms to provide quality services in the water and sanitation sector.

With the assistance from cooperating partners and other stakeholders, we hope that water and sanitation system, particularly in the rural areas and the sprawling unplanned settlements in the urban areas, will be improved.

It is in fact in the high-density areas that cholera and other waterborne diseases are prone to break out.

Thus, clean water and proper sanitation for all is essential as Zambia strives to attain the Millennium Development Goals and the Vision 2030.