Borehole Well and Hand Pump
Rehabilitation Project
150 people in the Malombe community depend on their local dispensary for essential health care. Six dedicated staff members serve an average of 30 patients every day - but without a reliable water source, even basic care is a constant struggle.
Right now, the dispensary relies on two donated rain tanks that simply aren't big enough to keep up with demand. When they run dry, staff scrape together enough resources to pay community members to make the thirty-minute trip to collect and deliver water from the local spring to the health center so they can continue providing services.
The rain tanks are too small.
Neither option is ideal.
Robinson Avedi, a 29-year-old nurse at the dispensary, shared his perspective.
"Recently, one of our staff members fell ill after drinking water from the tank during a period when it had been stored for [too] long and was not treated. She developed severe stomach pains and diarrhea, which made it difficult for her to continue working. As a health worker, it was frustrating because we are expected to care for patients, yet we are also at risk due to the same unsafe water. She had to seek treatment and rest for a few days before recovering," Nurse Avedi said.
Nurse Robinson Avedi.
He has experienced the same difficulties as his colleague.
"When I experience water-related illnesses, I mainly use oral rehydration drugs, antibiotics, and painkillers. When it is severe, I have to conduct laboratory tests just to establish what is really affecting me. Yes, treatment uses a significant amount of my money, especially when it involves purchasing drugs, paying for tests, and repeated treatment. It causes a financial strain, especially when such illnesses occur frequently due to unsafe water," he said.
"It is very concerning and frustrating to rely on water that can harm our health and that of our patients. Water is essential for treatment, hygiene, and recovery, so when it is unsafe, it puts everyone at risk," he continued.
Nurse Avedi shared how access to clean water on the clinic grounds would make a difference for him and his patients.
"If we didn’t have to spend money on water, we would use those funds to improve the facility by purchasing essential medical supplies, drugs, and equipment. We could also invest in better sanitation materials, support staff needs, and improve overall patient care services," he said.
"I believe patient care would greatly improve with access to safe and reliable water. We would be able to maintain proper hygiene in the facility, reduce the risk of infections, and ensure that medical procedures are carried out in a clean environment."
We could not agree more. Our hope is to bring clean, sufficient water to the health center so that staff, patients, and surrounding community members can access it without fear of illness and receive the best possible healthcare when they are in need.
Steps Toward a Solution
For health care settings, immediate access to a large quantity of clean water is crucial for handwashing, sterilization of equipment, cleaning, and safe childbirth. Water that is off-site creates delays, impacts patient care, and increases the risk of hospital-acquired infections.
Our coverage goals aim for all health centers to have an on-premises water source that will sufficiently serve the patients, healthcare providers, and staff to ensure accessibility, reliability, and safety. With more water available, healthcare workers do not have to ration water, worry about purchasing water with their limited funds, or make tough decisions about when to wash their hands or equipment.
Reliable, clean water ensures that healthcare workers have sufficient water so they can provide excellent patient care!
Our technical experts worked with the health center leadership and the local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. They decided to drill a borehole well, construct a platform for the well, and attach a hand pump.
Well
Abundant water often lies just beneath our feet. Aquifers—natural underground rivers—flow through layers of sediment and rock, offering a constant supply of safe water. A borehole well is drilled deep into the earth to access this naturally filtered and protected water. We penetrate meters, sometimes even hundreds of meters, of soil, silt, rock, and more to reach the water underground. Once found, we construct a platform for the well and attach a hand pump. The community gains a safe, enclosed water source capable of providing approximately five gallons of water per minute. Learn more here!
Handwashing Stations
Alongside each water source, we install two gravity-fed handwashing stations, enabling everyone at the health center to wash their hands. Handwashing is crucial for preventing water-related illnesses within the health center and community. Health center staff will maintain the stations, fill them with water, and supply them with soap, which we often teach them how to make.
Latrines
We ensure there are Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine blocks that effectively prevent the transmission of fecal diseases. Each latrine will boast a durable cement floor for easy use and maintenance. We’ll ensure at least one stall is reserved for staff, along with gender-separated toilets that include menstrual hygiene facilities and accessible options for individuals with limited mobility.
Health Care Staff and Community Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each community's specific needs and includes key topics such as proper water handling, improved hygiene practices, disease transmission prevention, and care of the new water point. Safe water and improved hygiene habits foster a healthier future for everyone in the community.
Encouraged and supported by the guidance of our team, a water user committee representative of the community's diverse members assumes responsibility for maintaining the water point, often gathering fees to ensure its upkeep.
