The Malaha Dispensary caters to a steady stream of patients' needs, treating at least 80 people every day. The dispensary has a well, but regrettably, the condition and location of the well are not good. The well is meant to serve patients, the dedicated staff, and surrounding community members, but the water it produces has proven to be detrimental, often leading to adverse health effects.
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Staff member carrying water.
Field Officer Mercy Wamala painted a picture of the current water source, "Sometimes, the submersible pump breaks down due to low levels of water in this well, and repair becomes a problem to them, taking them [too] long to repair it. Also, pumping water on a daily basis is very expensive. The location of the well was not strategically placed because next to this waterpoint [is] their septic tank, and it's located near latrines, which makes this water unsafe for consumption."
Community members come to this dispensary for healing, but no matter how hard the staff works, their unsafe water has the opposite effect.
Charge Nurse Violet Mhunzu has crucial responsibilities. People's lives depend on her doing her job. But with their current well, she has little time to do her job, as most of it is spent trying to collect water.
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Violet at the current dysfunctional well.
"During [the] dry season, the level of water at this waterpoint reduces, and it causes the breakdown of this pump, so I can end up spending 30 minutes at the waterpoint," said Violet.
As Violet noted, the well can't produce sufficient water, especially during the dry season, which exacerbates the problems of this waterpoint. Not only does Violet sacrifice crucial time that she needs for her patients, but the water she does manage to collect is making her patients more ill and in need of additional medical care.
"I think that drinking water that harms you and your family should not encouraged at all because treating diseases that are water-related illnesses is very costly. People should be concerned with water before consuming it," said Violet.
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Treatment room.
Being a medical professional, Violet is acutely aware of the importance of clean, safe water.
"Water is life; without water, you can't drink, wash clothes, and even clean your hands. Without water, life becomes difficult for us. The human body uses water, and without water, our functioning body system fails to perform some useful activities in the body like digestion."
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Violet.
Installing a new borehole well at the Mahala Dispensary will have life-changing effects. Staff members like Violet will have time to care for their patients with clean water, and community members won't get sick from the water they collect. With access to clean, safe water, the staff, patients, and community members surrounding the dispensary will have the tools they need to thrive.
Steps Toward a Solution
Our technical experts worked with 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 will construct two Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine blocks designed to prevent fecal disease transmission. Each latrine features a cement floor, making it easy to use and clean regularly. Three stalls will serve the women and girls, and three will serve the men and boys.
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.