Mugai Health Center

October, 2025: Mugai Health Center Well Complete!

Your contribution has given access to clean water for the Mugai Health Center in Kenya, thanks to the completion of their borehole well! Staff, patients, and their families are already using the well’s flowing water, which will provide the health center with a reliable water source for all of its daily needs.

"This project has come at the right time, when we really needed it, because for a very long time, we had relied only on [a] rain harvesting plastic tank that could not supply us with enough water both at the kitchen and medication section. With reliable water within our premises, I believe that as a facility, we are going to have sufficient water to meet all our needs," celebrated 49-year-old Charge Nurse, Tom Makokha.

Mr. Tom Makokha.

"Having this water source within the facility premises will ensure that every patient who visits the facility for medication will be provided with clean, safe water to drink as they wait at the bay to be served. With [the] consumption of safe water, it will reduce cases of waterborne diseases and eliminate any agents of contamination," exclaimed Tom.

"This waterpoint will help in ensuring that our facility is generally clean, always, and appealing to our clients, which in itself will act as proof of quality services offered."

Nurse Salma Murai shared her excitement.

Nurse Salma Murai.

"This water source will positively impact the lives of the patients by prolonging [their lives] because of drinking safe, clean water free from disease-causing pathogens, and [their] health will improve from using assured water from a known source. We want to eliminate water-related diseases and improve service delivery, especially in emergency cases, such as helping expectant mothers to deliver their babies, even if we do not have [a] maternity wing," Nurse Murai said.

How We Got the Water Flowing

Staff and community members all contributed to this well’s success. After determining the best site for the well through a hydrogeological survey, we obtained approval from the government to begin drilling.

To prepare, everyone helped collect fine sand and water for cement-making. Our drill team and staff arrived at the center to begin work when everything was ready.

Drilling started with excitement in the air. We continued drilling to reach a final depth of 120 meters with a final static water level of 3.5 meters.

The drilling process can take up to three consecutive days to complete due to this region’s hard bedrock, so the drill team set up a camp where they could rest and refuel.

Once we reached the required depth, a permanent casing was installed, and the dirty water at the bottom of the well was bailed out. Workers installed pipes, flushed them, tested the well’s yield, and chlorinated the water.

After chlorination, we constructed a cement well pad to seal it off from any ground-level contaminants. Tiles were installed beneath the spout to protect the cement from the erosive force of the water.

We included a short drainage channel and a soak pit to carry spilled water away from the pump and prevent standing water.

When the well pad was dry, we installed a new stainless steel hand pump and performed a water quality test. The results showed that this water was safe for drinking!
The enthusiasm for this much-anticipated project was overwhelming. We officially gave ownership of the new borehole to the health center staff and the local community members.

Everyone celebrated the health center’s new water source. The celebration was a great opportunity to acknowledge the staff and remind them of our continued support. Happiness, thanksgiving, and appreciation were the order of the day, flowing in all directions.

Improved Sanitation Facilities

This project funded the installation of modern sanitation facilities at the health center. Newly constructed latrines now serve both patients and staff, including a dedicated, accessible unit for people with disabilities. Each latrine is built with cement floors and walls, ensuring durability, easy cleaning, and low-maintenance upkeep.

Staff in front of the completed latrines.

To promote proper hygiene, sinks with running water were installed alongside the latrines, encouraging regular handwashing among patients, caregivers, and medical staff. Additionally, a biodigester system was introduced to manage waste sustainably. The biodigester uses natural bacteria to safely break down human waste, reducing environmental impact while supporting long-term waste management solutions.

With these improvements, the health center is now better equipped to maintain high standards of hygiene and sanitation. Patients and healthcare workers alike benefit from safer, cleaner facilities, which directly support the prevention of disease transmission and the overall well-being of the community.

Community Education

We scheduled hygiene and sanitation training with the health center staff. When the training day arrived, field officers Lillian and Nelly deployed to the site to lead the event. 17 people attended the training.

During our training, we covered a range of essential topics, including personal, oral, food, and environmental hygiene. We discussed disease prevention strategies, the ten-step handwashing protocol, and the construction of handwashing facilities. Additionally, we talked about safe water handling, maintenance, and operation of water points, as well as principles of leadership and governance.

"[The] personal hygiene topic was very interesting. Under this topic, I was able to learn how to make soap. This method is easy and [very] affordable compared to buying soap from the shops. As a health promoter, I'll carry this message into the communities I work in so that every family can have enough soap for cleaning purposes. Still under [the] personal hygiene [topic], I enjoyed the menstrual hygiene subtopic. I have been encouraged as a man not to shy away from discussing this topic [with] our mothers, sisters, and daughters. I'm now able to openly talk and educate others on menstrual hygiene," shared Wilson Muyekho, a 35-year-old community health promoter and the newly appointed Chairman of the Water User Committee.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

August, 2025: Project Update at Mugai Health Center!

We’re making steady progress towards completing the construction of the new well and sanitation facilities at Mugai Health Center. We are completing the final portion of the project: installing specialized latrine facilities that will improve access for those with disabilities.

We look forward to sharing more once our artisans and trainers wrap up their work in the next few weeks. When the time comes, there will be much to celebrate.

Thank you for your support!

July, 2025: Exciting Progress at Mugai Health Center!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for the entire staff and surrounding community of Mugai Health Center. Construction has begun on the well project, bringing them one step closer to having clean, reliable water.

But that's not all—during construction, we’re also providing vital health training. These sessions equip the staff and community with essential hygiene practices, ensuring that the benefits of clean water extend to lasting health improvements.

We’re so grateful for your role in making this possible. Stay tuned for more updates—soon, we’ll be celebrating the arrival of safe water at Mugai Health Center!