Rehabilitation Project
The report below from our partner in the field gives some great information on the construction of a new rainwater harvesting system at Kifuruta Primary School in Uganda:
Introduction
Located in Kigumba, one of the sub-counties that hosted the internally displaced people due to Joseph Kony’s LRA war in northern Uganda, Kifuruta Primary School with an enrollment of 802 pupils (399 boys and 403 girls) is known for its huge number of pupils that have not only led to high teacher pupil ratio but also dire need for access to clean water for both drinking and other WASH related activities. According to Mrs. Tumusiime Pauline the Head teacher, Government sunk a borehole at this school which pumps out highly turbid water and has since been abandoned. The Local government later procured for them a plastic water tank which is insufficient due to the huge population at school.
In an effort to contribute to good sanitation at this primary School, The Water Trust will construct a ferrous- cement water tank to harvest rain water that will contribute to WASH activities. Our social team will conduct training in good sanitation and a health club will be elected at Kifuruta Primary School.
Improved water sources reduce diarrhea morbidity by 21%; improved sanitation reduces diarrhea morbidity by 37.5%; and the simple act of washing hands at critical times can reduce the number of diarrhea cases by as much as 37%.
In most schools, girls are faced with poor facilities, inadequate water for washing, lack of soap, no privacy and non-functioning or insufficient toilets. This reduces school attendance. In Uganda, a UNICEF funded case study that involved 300 primary school girls showed that 94% of the girls had some problems at school.
According to the WHO, diseases due to poor water supply, sanitation, and personal and domestic hygiene cause 4.0% of all deaths and 5.7% of all disability or ill health in the world. Moreover, waterborne illnesses predominantly affect the poor and the young. When basic water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions are applied, waterborne illnesses can be effectively reduced(www.who.int)
December 4, 2013
The procurement process of a contractor to take on this project has been completed, and a contract already signed. Siting has been conducted and a suitable location, strategically near latrines has been located and construction work flagged off.
December 10, 2013
Progress on construction is good. The school management is optimistic that this tank will avert poor sanitation relater diseases. View the progress in the pictures below.
January 14, 2014
All works on the rainwater harvesting tank have been completed and ready for use. Plans to hand over this facility to the school management committee will take place as soon as the school reopens for 1st term on February 3, 2014.
