Mean Chey Health Center Water Project – Cambodia

This project is made possible through the partnership of WATER CHARITY and the NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOCIATION.

Location
Mean Chey, Kampong Thom Province, Cambodia

Community Description
Mean Chey is a farming commune located in rural Kampong Thom Province, Cambodia. Rainwater is not a dependable source of water in this region of Cambodia, especially during the dry season.

The health center serves a community of over 23,000 people.

Problem Addressed
The previous well stopped working over a decade ago and is now broken beyond repair. Furthermore, it is located within 10 meters of the public latrines in the Health Center, which means that even if the old well were to be fixed, the water would be contaminated with human waste.

The consequences of a lack of clean water supply are the transmission of diarrhea, skin disease, respiratory illnesses, and intestinal and other waterborne diseases. Therefore, the health center is in dire need of an adequate, uncontaminated water supply.

Environmental sanitation is also lacking in the health center. There are few waste bins and no recycling bins, and patients and staff throw trash on the ground and do a poor job of cleaning.

The Health Center staff and patients, particularly mothers of young children and pregnant women, have communicated concerns regarding their own health and patient health due to the lack of clean usable water, no handwashing station, only one working latrine, and uncleanliness in the vicinity of the health center, caused by the absence of waste disposal receptacles.

Lack of clean water and sanitation is one of the biggest issues affecting the health of people across Cambodia, particularly younger children who are reliant on their parents or caretakers to access clean water or learn about sanitation. Each week, hundreds of patients and their families use the facilities in the center.

Project Description
This project is to build a well and implement several sanitation improvements at the health center.

The well will be drilled to a depth of 45 meters by skilled local workers. It will be located over 30 meters away from the public latrines on the grounds of the Health Center in order to ensure that the water is not contaminated.

An electric pump will be installed, and piping will direct the water to the latrines, handwashing stations, and delivery room.

A handwashing station will be built next to the latrines on the right side of the health center near the delivery room.

Other improvements will be the repair of broken doors and lavatories, painting, and placement of two waste and two recycling bins in the health center.

The PCV and Health Center director, who is the PCV’s counterpart, will develop and implement comprehensive lesson plans for “training of trainers” sessions with the Health Center staff on how to effectively conduct community education sessions on handwashing, and running water, and waste disposal practices.

Project Impact
888 people will directly benefit from the project, and thousands more within the service area will receive the occasional benefits.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Priyanka Mysore

Monitoring and Maintenance
Health center staff will be responsible for monitoring the new facilities and maintaining the improvements, and making repairs as needed.

Fundraising Target
$2,700

Funds raised in excess of the project amount will be allocated to other projects in the country.

Donations Collected to Date
$0

ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE PROJECT.

Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you “naming rights”, if that is something you would like.

Dollar Amount Needed
$2,700