This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Geoffrey Burmeister.
To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to repair the two toilet chambers and single shower chamber at the Kounkane Health Post.
Geoffrey reports:
This project cleaned, disinfected, and rehabilitated two latrines and one shower at the health post in Kounkane, Kolda Region, Senegal, a rural road town with a population of approximately 9,300. The health post serves the entire population of Kounkane, as well as several outlying villages.
Within a week after receiving the funds, we met with the plumber and mason and arranged for the purchase of supplies. The work was completed in two full days.
Specifically, this project procured a local team to thoroughly clean and disinfect the toilet chambers. Secondly, it procured a local plumber to unblock the pipes leading to the septic tank, install a working shower in the shower chamber, and connect a water line to each of the three chambers. Thirdly, it procured a local mason to repair the cracks and holes in the floor and walls and repaint the door on each chamber.
Appropriate Projects funds purchased cleaning supplies, PVC piping, new Turkish toilet seats, a shower head, galvanized piping and faucets to branch a water line with each chamber, cement, sand, gravel, and paint. These funds also paid for the labor of the plumber and mason.
The health post paid for the labor of the disinfection team and provided buckets for each toilet chamber. In addition, the health committee created a schedule to ensure that the latrines and shower are actively monitored and cleaned daily.
The toilets are now unblocked, cracks in the walls and ceiling are repaired, a full shower is installed in one chamber, and a water line is branched to each chamber. In addition, the doors to each chamber were painted.
As the mason did not paint the interior and exterior of the chambers, and the project did not require as much galvanized piping as originally expected, the remainder of the project funds (approximately $60) will be used by PCVs Cara Steger and Jenae Woodward to increase the depth of a currently dry well in Saare Madia, a village approximately 7 km from Kounkane, and install a metal well cover.
The health committee has created a calendar for workers to regularly clean the toilet chambers, and the toilets sit within view of the lead matron (women’s health assistant), who can monitor the toilets and make sure they are not being abused. The chambers will also be locked at night when there are no patients or health workers at the post. Minor repairs can be made in the future with the help of funds from the health committee’s budget.
Upon completion of the project and receipt of the funds, the health committee president (Mansour Sabaly), treasurer (Salif Sabaly), ASC (Ousmane Sabaly), pharmacist (Oumar Diao), matron (Salimatou Sabaly), and sage-femme (Maimouna Diouf) wished to thank Appropriate Projects for financing the project, and were very happy that Peace Corps could collaborate with Appropriate Projects to help the health post rehabilitate the toilets and shower.
We wish to thank Geoffrey for completing this project, and again extend our gratitude to The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust for providing the funding.
