Location
Tram Sarsaw Village, Bonteaymeas District, Kampot Province, Cambodia
Community Description
Samrong Leu Health Center is located in Tram Sarsaw Village, on National Highway 31, which is approximately 70 Kilometers from Kampot Town. The health center has a staff of 8 people, serves 11 surrounding villages and supports 2,492 families. Most of the families are rice farmers while others are shopkeepers or teachers.
The well at the center is broken and cannot be fixed due to the fact that the Cambodian Government has plans in the near future to extend National Highway 31 into the area where the old well currently lies.
There is a tank for rainwater collection to supply water for the toilets and general use of the health center, but during the dry season, it runs out. The center typically borrows one bucket of water from the nearby police station, which has to last for the entire day of cleaning, flushing the toilets, hand washing and general sanitation. Because of the shortage of water the level of sanitation at the health center is extremely low.
In 2011, 12,458 people came to the health center seeking medical services. Depending upon the time of year, there are usually 12 to 20 baby deliveries in one month. The families of the expectant mothers are forced to purchase bottled water, which is inconvenient and expensive.
Project Description
This project is to drill a well to provide patients and health center staff easy access to clean water during the entire year.
The community will pay for a professional driller to come to the site and together, they will decide on the best place to drill the well. The driller will then bring his equipment to dig the hole.
The community members and a few of the male staff from the health center will help dig the well by hand, along with the professional drilling. The community members will also carry the mud away with buckets from the hole, and help clean up the area after the drilling is done.
The driller will place 77 meters of PVC pipe into the well.
The community members will help carry the cement to the site, which the technician will use to line the well.
The community and village health volunteers have raised the funds to buy an electric pump, which will be connected to the locally-available electric service.
A cover will be placed on top of the well to ensure sanitation and provide protection from falling leaves and debris. The existing health center fence will provide the needed security.
Project funds will be used to purchase PVC pipe, cement, and other materials.
After the well is completed, a sample of the water will be sent to Phnom Penh to test for arsenic.
The community will pay for maintenance and repairs in the future.
Project Impact
This project will benefit about 12,500 people per year.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Ashley Buegler
Comments
This project will benefit all of the people in the health center service area by providing them with a safe and reliable source of drinking water, and an adequate supply of water for proper sanitation and hygiene.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$555.00 + additional amounts
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of Gary Buegler, of Point Pleasant, NJ, USA, with additional amounts from friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Ashley Buegler and the Elmo Foundation for future projects in the country.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Ashley of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Ashley 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.