This project is a part of our shared program with Bridge Water Project. Our team is pleased to directly share the below report (edited for clarity, as needed).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Being a local market, the people here are a combination of different tribes and sub tribes that live within this area. Luos, Wanga, Kisa and Kabras are part of the tribes that are found in this market.
The market holds a Market Day on Mondays and Fridays where other business people meet to sell their merchandise.
A well was drilled in the year 1989 by the Kenya Finland Company to help reduce the outbreak of water borne diseases in this market and also to promote the business activities.
Due to a lack of sensitization and the formation of a strong water committee, the well only served for a period of four years before being vandalized and stolen by people who are believed to have once worked with the Kenya Finland Company. A rock was placed over the top of the hole to help protect it from garbage, rocks, and other contaminants.
Existence of conflict between the different sub tribes around the market which were not addressed by the Kenya Finland Company during its implementation of projects is another reason to as why the well could not be sustained any longer. Bridge Water Project as an organization has the capacity to address these issues before the implementation of the rehab project. BWP has already met with various chiefs of the different tribes to ensure that there is consistent and transparent oversight of the well from all tribes.
CURRENT WATER SOURCE
The market currently has an access to a protected spring which is 5km away and cannot adequately provide water for the population of the market. The business men and women are forced to use different means to carry water from the stream to the market. Some use donkeys and bicycles to ferry water. For those without these resources, women carry containers on their heads and men carry using their hands.
POPULATION
In addition to the 20 households that find residence within the market area, each containing 5 to 6 family members, there are 1,500 to 2,000 people who carry their business activities in the market during Market Days.
(Editor's Note: While this many people may have access on any given day, realistically a single water source can only support a population of 350-500 people. This community would be a good candidate for a second project in the future so adequate water is available. To learn more, click here.)
HYGIENE & SANITATION
The market has 2 latrines, each of which has 4 doors. Currently only one latrine is in use as the other one is already full. There are no hand washing stations either at the latrines or within the market. Fecal matter is seen on the floor of the latrines especially for men.
The latrines are cleaned once a week by the market dwellers who have a duty roster that calls for every household to have a day to clean the latrines.
The market does not have a central place for dumping litter and this poses a risk for outbreaks of water borne diseases.
The Bridge Water Project is set to conduct a training on proper hygiene and sanitation which will lead to a change in behavior and attitude.
ASSESSING THE NEED
Water is needed in this market mainly for the purpose of drinking, washing, cooking and other related activities.
PROJECT BENEFICIARIES
The project will be of great benefit to the market dwellers and other business people who come to buy and sell their goods during Market Days.
WATER COMMITTEE
An active water committee is yet to be formed by the help of the Bridge Water Project to oversee the operations and maintenance of the water system once it is rehabilitated. The plan is to have one community member from each tribe be a working member of the community so that information is disseminated between all tribes.
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
HYGIENE AND SANITATION TRAINING
As the first step towards the implementation of Butali Market water project, it was essential for BWP to train the market members on proper Hygiene and Sanitation practices. This approach helps to empower market members to eliminate water and sanitation related diseases. To quickly understand that poor Hygiene and Sanitation behaviors and practices are the major cause of many preventable diseases, we carried out training on them.
The training was conducted at the Market place and a good number of both men and women attended the training. As we all know, poor daily hygiene and sanitation practices can lead to the diarrheal diseases. For this practice to be changed, the market members were trained through different techniques. They include;
a) Proper hand washing.
b) Water storage and handling (market sanitation level)
c) Food preparation and its handling (hotel sectors)
d) Prevention of diarrheal diseases.
Keeping in mind that the market members do not have hand washing stations, emphasis was placed on the importance of hand washing, the risks of not hand washing, when hand washing should be done, and how it should be done.
Poor storage of drinking water leads to higher chances of contamination. Many hotels in this market don’t have knowledge or facilities to properly store water. Some transport and store water in dirty jerricans which have no lids. The participants were trained on the best ways of water storage as well as its treatment methods.
To stop diarrheal diseases among the people in the market, emphasis was put on proper handling of food with clean hands so as to break the chain of the spread of diarrheal diseases. Both men and women were encouraged to ensure that their market environments have access to clean food and water, and to make use of latrine so as to curb the spread of diarrheal diseases.
Following the training, the community members were enlightened and eager to begin observing better hygiene and sanitation practices at their market.
WELL PAD CONSTRUCTION
The BWP construction team arrived at the site fully equipped ready to do the construction work at Butali market borehole. Cement work was done by plastering the old pad very keenly to make sure the whole well pad is fully sealed to avoid any contamination. The well pad was left to cure for some days waiting for pump installation.
PUMP INSTALLATION AND HANDING OVER
The Bridge Water Service Team arrived at Butali Market after the curing of the cement work had been done. The committee of the Market had been eagerly waiting for this day and were there to help our team. The installation process went as planned and eventually the pump was handed over to the Butali Market Consumers. The Chairman of the Water Committee thanked BWP and The Water Project for reviving this water source and he promised to do his best to see that the water can serve the people for a long time. BWP also reassured the chairman that they would be available for any necessary repairs or checks.
