Rehabilitation Project
Even with a dug well and two rainwater tanks on the grounds of Musango Health Center, the staff still never has enough water to serve the constant flow of patients.
The dug well is shallow and doesn't have a pump. Every time a staff member opens the cover and drops the bucket into the shallow pool of water below, contaminants from the bucket enter the water supply. Also, the well runs out of water multiple times a day due to a slow water recharge rate, and dries up entirely during the drought seasons, which last more than a month each year.
The rainwater tanks only fill up during Kenya's rainy seasons, which have been sparse and undependable in recent years due to climate change. The tanks might serve the center for a few weeks after a rainstorm, but the rest of the time, they stand empty. And even when there is water, the tanks have been infested by tiny water insects that render the water unfit for much, other than mopping floors.
So the nurses and non-medical staff at the busy health center are left to wander the community, asking neighbors with dug wells for permission to collect water. But this presents its own problems, because not only is the health center left short-staffed when emergencies and births arise, but they can't be sure that the water they collect from the community is safe for patients, who may already be in a weakened state.
The Health Center provides a plethora of health services to multiple surrounding communities: inpatient, outpatient, and obstetric care. Patients need clean water for bathing and drinking. Water is also needed for sterilizing, cleaning, and handwashing. Without it, the Center is limited in the services it can provide.
"[The] lack of adequate water at the health facility affects my daily working schedules and also sometimes makes me sick," said nurse Martha (Mary) Ndauya, 51 (shown above).
This situation also impacts the staff's families, who reside on the health center grounds with them, like Denis K (shown below collecting water from one of the small rain tanks).
"When the dug well at the health facility dries up, I have to walk for a long distance in the morning to collect water before going to school," said 13-year-old Denis K. "This makes me miss most of the morning lessons, and also, when I get to school, [I] am usually very tired and [this] affects my concentration in class."
The health center needs a reliable, safe source of water to treat patients effectively and prevent them from being infected with water-related illnesses. With a borehole well right on campus, people from all the surrounding communities will benefit from a smoothly functioning treatment center.
What We Can Do:
New Well
We conducted a hydrogeological survey and the results indicated the water table here is an ideal candidate for a borehole well. Due to a borehole well's unique ability to tap into a safe, year-round water column, it will be poised to serve all of the water needs for this clinic's needs, even through the dry season.
The clinic will help collect the needed construction materials such as sand, rocks, and water for mixing cement. They will also provide housing and meals for the work team, in addition to providing local laborers. We will complement their materials by providing an expert team of artisans and drilling professionals, tools, hardware, and hand-pump. Once finished, the clinic will use water from the well and staff for drinking, handwashing, cleaning, and much more.
The clinic and we strongly believe that all of these components will work together to make the clinic easier to clean, which will aid in treatment and unlock the opportunity for patients and staff alike to live better, healthier lives.
Handwashing Stations
We will install two new handwashing stations and ensure they are kept clean and in working condition. The clinic staff will fill the handwashing stations with water daily and make sure they are always supplied with a cleaning agent such as soap or ash.
Training on Health, Hygiene, and More
We will hold a one-day intensive training session. This training will cover a wide range of topics, including disease transmission routes and prevention; personal and environmental hygiene; and the operation and maintenance of the borehole and handwashing stations. There will be a special emphasis on handwashing.
Our team of facilitators will use various methods to train, including participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation and asset-based community development. We will also lead lectures, group discussions and provide illustrative handouts to teach health topics and promote good hygiene practices, including handwashing and water treatment. We will then conduct a series of follow-up training before transitioning to our regularly scheduled support visits throughout the year.
