Likaringilo Dispensary Rainwater Catchment Project – Tanzania

Location
Village of Likarangilo, City of Songea, Ruvuma Region, Tanzania

Community Description
Likaringilo is located 30 kilometers north of Songea, in the Ward of Mtyangimbole in the Ruvuma region. It is fairly new and officially became a village in 1998. It is home to 2,196 villagers, most of whom are farmers. There is one primary school and one dispensary.

The Likaringilo Dispensary was established in 2009, and serves the entire village. There are two full-time doctors, two full-time nurses as well as one volunteer villager working in the clinic. Currently, there is no steady source of water.

Problem Addressed
Typically the mothers coming to weigh their babies bring buckets of water for the clinic to use. There is a desperate need for a steadier source of clean water to perform normal clinic functions as well as to decrease the burden on patients of bringing water while sick or caring for a child’s health.

During the dry season, April to October, there is not enough access to water for the clinic and the water that is available in a nearby river is polluted from waste. Basic sanitation cannot be met with the lack of clean water during this long dry season.

Project Description
This project is to build a rainwater catchment system at the Likaringilo Dispensary.

A 4,000-5,000 liter tank will be installed on an elevated stand. Gutters will be attached to the roof and piping will be run to the tank.

Materials will be purchased in Songea and driven to Likarangilo. The work will be done by local handymen at a reduced fee.

Water Charity funds will be used to purchase the tank, the material for gutters, piping, connecting clips, and materials to create the stand, as well as costs for transporting the materials to the village.

Project Impact
The project will significantly improve the lives of over 2,000 villagers who frequent the dispensary.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Mary Heinemann

Comments
This rainwater catchment system will give staff and patients better access to clean water, especially during the dry season. The patients will no longer be responsible for bringing the water to the dispensary. The number and quality of services will increase dramatically.

Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00

Donations Collected to Date
$555.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of the Cristopher Lin, of Diamond Bar, CA, USA.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Mary Heinemann of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Mary and/or those of other PCVs in the country of service.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.