Improved Patient Care and Staff Work Conditions

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Elizabeth. Since then, she and the other staff at the Shamberere Health Center, which serves several patients a day, have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"In the health facility, clean water means better hygiene, safer patient care, and a healthier environment for both staff and patients. It supports infection prevention, saves time, and allows everyone to focus on providing and receiving care without worrying about water shortages," expressed Nurse Ambogo.

Before the Well Installation

Like many health care workers in Western Kenya, 42-year-old Elizabeth Ambogo was responsible for collecting water to meet the clinic's daily needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task took up her time and negatively affected her and the care she could provide to her patients.

Healthcare workers collect water from the previous water source.

Many in the community suffered from waterborne diseases that created health problems, affecting their daily lives and sending them to the clinic for care. Yet without readily available water, Elizabeth and other staff members spent time and energy finding and collecting water, rather than prioritizing patient care. It was disheartening and exhausting.

"Sometimes, staff had to spend time walking long distances to fetch water from other sources, which took time away from patient care. The shortage of water also affected hygiene and sanitation, increasing the risk of infections for both patients and staff. Overall, providing quality care was much harder when water was unreliable," reported Nurse Ambogo.

"The limited water affected daily tasks like cleaning and handwashing, making it harder to maintain hygiene and provide quality care. It was stressful and disrupted the smooth running of the facility, as water was never guaranteed when it was most needed," Elizabeth detailed.

Since the Well Installation

Your generous gift last year was more than a simple donation; it was a powerful statement of your commitment to this community's health and to Elizabeth’s future as a nurse who enabled healing. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Reliable, clean water lays the groundwork for improved health. We frequently hear from those we interview that "water is life," and in the case of a healthcare center, nothing could be truer.

"Now, it takes only a few minutes to collect water because the borehole is located within the health facility and is easy to access," celebrated Elizabeth. "Patients now receive care in a safer and more comfortable environment, with reduced risk of infections. Services are also more timely because staff no longer spend time searching for water, allowing them to focus fully on patient care. Overall, the water point has made the facility more efficient and improved the quality of care patients receive."

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Elizabeth and the health center. This is just the first chapter of their story as access to clean water continues to improve their lives!

At The Water Project, we value sustainability and want to ensure that people continue to thrive. We commit to monitoring this project to ensure the water is always flowing and safe to consume. We inspect system hardware, monitor water availability, conduct sanitary inspections, and collect water-quality samples to identify risks. We work with our on-the-ground team to resolve them.

You gave Elizabeth a crucial tool for achieving her dreams and those of her patients: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, her enthusiasm and courage will help her fulfill her work responsibilities with passion and excellence.

"Over the past year, patients’ lives have become easier because the facility now has a reliable supply of clean water. They receive care in a cleaner and safer environment, with better hygiene in wards, toilets, and treatment areas," said Elizabeth.

"Staff lives have become much easier over the past year because water is now always available at the facility. They no longer need to spend time walking long distances or waiting for water, which saves time and reduces physical strain. Reliable water has also made daily tasks like handwashing, sterilizing equipment, and managing waste much simpler and more efficient. This has improved working conditions, boosted morale, and allowed staff to focus more on providing quality care to patients," she continued.

The staff vegetable garden.

"The water has also supported small projects within the facility, like a vegetable garden, which was started to provide fresh food for staff, and a soap-making initiative, which was launched to ensure a steady supply for hygiene purposes. These projects would have been difficult or impossible before, showing how reliable water has helped the facility grow and operate more efficiently," Elizabeth noted.

Elizabeth shared her hopes for the future for herself, her patients, and her fellow staff members. "My dream for the future is to see the health facility continue to improve and expand its services so that it can serve the community better. We hope to provide care in a clean, safe, and well‑equipped environment where patients feel respected and protected."

The future is full of potential!

Staff members of the health center appreciate the resource of clean water.