Access to drinking water is one of the main challenges facing the Amudat district in the Karamoja region. Through this project, 2,400 people will have access to drinking water.
Description
The shortage of water points and the long distances to them are major problems for the majority of poor families in the Amudat region. On average, it takes members of a household between one and two hours to get to their water point, collect water and return home. To avoid these long and tedious journeys, residents tend to collect water from unprotected wells, which exposes them to diseases linked to drinking dirty water..
Limited access to water sources has led to the spread of water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and typhoid. Children and women are the worst affected by these diseases.
To improve the health of the population, FH Uganda is going to drill four deep wells in the sub-counties of Lokales and Karita, in order to give more than 2,400 people access to drinking water. FH will also strengthen the capacity of the water user committees to operate and maintain the new water sources in the long term, to ensure their continued operation.
The community will also be made aware of health, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene issues. Hygiene promotion campaigns will also be conducted in schools.
In the same region, FH is also supporting two agricultural projects: Promoting agro-ecological transition and Agro-ecology and nutrition. And a health project (with the support of the municipality of Horn in Thurgau) that will improve patient care at the Karita health centre.
Testimonials
Patricia, Lokayi village, Lokales sub-county, Amudat region
"The water shortage was a burden. Every day was a trek, often undertaken by women and children, to remote places and sometimes dangerous water sources. Our children missed school and spent their mornings walking miles to fetch water, which was often dirty and made us sick. We constantly worried about where the next drop would come from, especially during the dry season. Today, a sense of relief and joy radiates through the community, thanks to the new well that has been built. Our children are at school, learning and playing. We have time to tend to our gardens and businesses. Diseases have decreased. This well is not just water; it's life, it's health, it's a new opportunity for us all! The once arduous journey to fetch water has been replaced by a short walk to a reliable source. The community can now concentrate on building a better future together.”
Michael, local manager in the Karita sub-county
"I remember a time when open defecation was a common practice and the rivers on which we depended for our water supply were often contaminated, leading to frequent bouts of illness, particularly among children. The campaigns, run by local health workers and community volunteers, helped to change attitudes. Simple, realistic messages were spread by going door-to-door and organising community meetings to explain the link between hygiene practices and health. At first, some people were reluctant to change, but the consistency of the messages and the visible improvements in the health of those who adopted the practices began to convince even the sceptics. Today, more households have latrines, and hand-washing with soap after using the toilet and before meals has become the norm. The reduction in water-borne diseases seen in our local clinic is testament to the success of these efforts. The transformation didn't happen overnight, but the sustained awareness campaigns have made an impact."
Results
Children pumping water from a newly drilled well
The AWAP project has led to a significant improvement in health in the Amudat district, in particular by reducing the prevalence of water-borne diseases from 69% to 48%. Cases of diarrhoea among children under the age of five have fallen from 577 to 177.
Four new deep wells have been built, giving 2,400 people (575 households) access to drinking water. However, breakdowns on other pumps limited the overall impact. To mitigate these risks, two management committees have been formed and are fully operational to ensure the maintenance of the infrastructure.
In terms of hygiene, 53% of households in Karita now use sanitary facilities, compared with 29% previously. Digging tools have been provided to 40 vulnerable households to build their latrines.
Finally, more than 5,300 people have taken part in WASH campaigns, with 60 community activists trained. Actions in schools and awareness campaigns have led to a lasting improvement in hygiene practices, reaching a total of more than 10,000 people.
