Rehabilitation Project
The report below from our partner in the field gives some great information on the construction of a new hand-dug well in the Hanga Asiyanju community in Uganda:
Background:
Hanga Asiyanju is a quiet farming village located at the extreme western end of Kigumba Sub-County, Kiryandongo District in Uganda’s mid-western region. The village is situated in a beautiful area bordering Masindi district where residents engage in commercial farming by the fact that soils here are very fertile. Cassava and maize are the major cash crops grown. Traders collect every grain from these farmers at the end of every season.
This village of approximately 150 people lacks access to clean water. They collect water from a protected spring within the village which is in a state of disrepair. One can observe the many cracks that let water out and the pipe that would let out clean water has since gotten submerged. Water from this spring is turbid and not good for drinking. The nearest alternative is about 2kilometers away and where there is always a long queue hence making fetching water a hectic job for the women and children who traditionally do this job.
The Water Trust (TWT) will have an intensive program to provide access to clean water and sanitation in this village. The community will participate in excavating and constructing the water source. In the mean time the aim is that all households own an improved latrine. Many households do not use a latrine but use the bush. Due to open defecation, faeces are spread all over the village. This leads to waterborne diseases and contamination of the groundwater. Our aim is that the community is able to live a healthy life and free of preventable diseases. We endeavor that at the end of our presence in the community; people have both access to sustainable clean water and access to sanitation. As a strategy to achieve is, we don’t commission the water source until all households have latrines. At the moment, we have organized families to form digging groups for latrine construction and empowered them with tools to use.
Construction Progress:
January 23, 2014
Today TWT delivered all the necessary materials (cement, iron bars, binding wire, nails, and a PVC pipe ) under the village partnership program to Hanga Asianju with Benya the technician assigned to work with this community. Benya will work closely with community members who in turn will provide him with accommodation and food during the works.
January 30, 2014
Excavation works are going on well with the construction team reaching 5ft. Unfortunately, works had to be temporarily stopped as Benya the technician had a family issue to deal with away from the site. It is hoped that work will resume within the following week.
February 7, 2014
Works have resumed in Hanga Asianju this week with the delivery of the community contribution of materials ( a trip of sand and hardcore and 2000 bricks) Currently this site has hit water at 12ft deep and the community is very happy about this development and has motivated them to work harder to successfully complete their work under Benya’s guidance.
February 14, 2014
At 18ft, excavation progress hit a bed rock and this is a very big challenge. The technical team has opted to measure recharge and if they find it good, they will stop excavation and start masonry work or else they have ti re-site and start all over again.
February 18, 2014
The recharge rate of this well has been measured and found to be good and the water column is 6ft. Masonry work has began and according to Mr. Kaggwa the technical head, this well will have no issues since the recharge is high regardless of a low water column.
February 20, 2014
All masonry work has been concluded and the well has been covered to allow it set before the pump can be installed. We shall keep you updated when any other development occurs.
March 5, 2014
Today the pump head was installed and the community is happy about this development. We took pictures to share with you below.
In addition to the new well, our partner in the field conducts training in sanitation and hygiene, including encouraging and helping the community install latrines which help prevent the spread of disease.
Sanitation and Hygiene Progress
The main objectives of TWT’s Sanitation and Hygiene Program are the use of latrines and observing proper hygiene practices as these goals are inherently connected to the provision of clean water. Open defecation, water storage in unclean containers and the absence of hand washing are all possible contaminates of a household water supply. TWT leverages this relationship, by requiring each participating village to achieve Open Defecation Free status (defined by one latrine per household), prior to the pump installation for a shallow hand dug well. Using the immediate gratification of clean water as an impetus, TWT works toward sustainable, interdisciplinary WASH development.
TWT’s social program includes the assignment of one Community Development Officer (CDO) to one village. The CDO encourages each household to build an ideal homestead that includes: a latrine, hand-washing facility, a separate structure for animals, rubbish pit and drying rack for dishes.
Community Led Total Sanitation
TWT implements the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach with each of our village partners. TWT facilitates a CLTS session in which we aim to improve the sanitation and hygiene practices and behaviors of a village. During these sessions, village leaders naturally emerge and push the community to realize that current practices of individual households – particularly open defecation– are not only unhealthy, but affect the entire village. CLTS facilitates a process in which community members realize the negative consequences of their current water, sanitation and hygiene behavior and are inspired to take action. Group interactions are frequent motivators for individual households to: build latrines, use the latrines and demand that other households do the same.
