Subira Dispensary Rainwater Catchment Project – Tanzania

 Location
Subira, Songea District, Ruvuma Region, Tanzania

Community Description
Subira is a ward capital, 12 km from the town of Songea, in the Ruvuma region of Tanzania. Comprised of eight streets stretching over a vast amount of rural farmland, Subira is home to over 8,700 people.

The Subira Dispensary was started in 2007. The dispensary employs 6 full-time staff including clinical officers, midwives, nurses, and laboratory technicians. The dispensary services well over 9,500 people, including residents of the ward and various outlying villages. Many patients travel far distances from their homes to receive medical care in Subira.

Rain falls heavily during the planting season of January through March, preceded by smaller, less frequent, mango rains from mid-November to December. The remaining 7 months of the year are dry. The main source of water for the villagers comes from a river that quickly dries up when the rains cease and is contaminated with runoff from animal grazing fields and pesticide-polluted farm fields.

When the area wells quickly dry up after the rainy season, the Subira Dispensary staff often find themselves traveling up to 3 km every day to fetch water from the polluted river for their daily tasks. Without consistent access to clean water, dispensary staff is unable to implement even basic sanitation practices while treating their patients.

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

All materials will be purchased in Songea town and transported by district government vehicles. The project will then take 4 days to complete.

An elevated stand will be built inside the courtyard of the dispensary and a 3,000-liter holding tank will be mounted. Gutters will be placed along the edge of the roof. Piping will be installed connecting the gutters to the tank.

All the work will be done by local tradesmen from Subira. The workers have discounted their labor costs in order for the project to be done within budget.

Funds from Water Charity will be used to purchase the gutters, connecting clips, piping, 3,000-liter holding tank, and materials to construct the tank stand.

Project Impact
The project will benefit over 9,500 people, including the community members of Subira and outlying areas.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Marissa McElrone

Comments
This project will allow for the collection of plentiful water during the rainy season to be available for use in the clinic during the dry season. It will thus improve the availability and quality of critical health services in the community.

Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00

Donations Collected to Date
$555.00 + additional amounts for future projects

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of Faust E. Capobianco III and Jasmine Capobianco, of Easton, PA, USA, with additional funds for future projects from friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Marissa McElrone.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Marissa of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Marissa 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.