Conclusion Of Foni Jarrol District Rehab Tour Phase-1

Conclusion Of Foni Jarrol District Rehab Tour Phase-1

Water For Everyone, Water For Everyone - The Gambia

Conclusion Of Foni Jarrol District Rehab Tour Phase-1

West Coast Region, The Gambia

Water Charity Country Director Ebrima Marong posing with the women of the community and encouraging them to practice hand washing

Foni Jarrol is one of the nine districts of The West Coast Region, which is located to the south of the Gambia River in the southwest of the country. Foni Jarrol is in the far east of the region, between Foni Bondali and the border with Senegal. The district is widely dominated by the Jola tribe and it is well known for its traditional cultural festival called ‘’Futampaf’’. This is a Jola traditional initiation ceremony which dates back centuries ago. According to oral history, the founders of Jarrol were the ancient Bainunka tribe. 

The district, along with other districts bordering Southern Senegal, has played host to thousands of refugees fleeing the Southern Senegalese region of Casamance’s crisis which saw fighting between Senegalese forces and Cassamance separatist rebels. This has had serious difficulties both economic and social affecting the district, among which is the scarcity of clean drinking water. Environmental issues are still persistent due to illegal logging causing mass deforestation within the district. 

OUTCOME 

The first phase of this project has been successfully completed thanks to Water Charity and its local partner Working Water The Gambia (WWG). This is part of a series of projects launched under the Water for Everyone Initiative. The project mission was to improve water access and sanitation conditions across 5 villages in Jarrol District by rehabilitating handpumps, installing new ones where necessary, and providing hand washing stations to improve sanitation and hygiene in the communities of SINTET VILLAGE, KAMSAMBOU VILLAGE, JOREM BUNDA KUNDA VILLAGE, KAMPASSA VILLAGE and ARENKOLI KUNDA VILLAGE. Thanks to the collaborative support of the villagers in all these villages, the project was completed successfully. This project provides access to clean water and sanitation to over 3,500 people 

Arenkoli Kunda Village

 
  • Olimatou is a housewife and she has been trained on how to do effective handwashing. She will also teach her family to practice it
  • Preparing the mixture of detergents for the hand washing station
  • The community is provided with a hand washing station and detergents. They also trained on effective hand washing techniques
  • Fresh clean drinking water flowing for the community now
  • Kemo is one of the workers who enjoys working. with his dreadlocks he is always on point and dedicated when working
  • Removing the rods replacing them with stainless steel ones
  • Work in progress

 

ACTIVITIES  

The project saw the successful dewatering, re-digging of wells, installation of new German Mark 2 cylinders and conversion heads, stainless-steel pipes, rod couplings, check nuts, pedestals, axle and bearings. Concrete water troughs were built, new culverts for wells and concrete slabs. Handwashing stations were installed in all project intervention communities supplied with detergents. In partnership with The Gambia’s Department of Water Resources, quality testing and treatment was also conducted at the end of each community project. In each community, learning sessions were held on effective handwashing techniques and simple water management strategies. Communities also participated in manual works like digging, collecting sand and gravel. They also hosted workers, which assured that all materials were secured.  

Jorem Bunda Kunda Village

 
  • The beautiful smiles on faces brought by Water Charity by providing clean drinking water to hard hit vulnerable communities
  • In a situation where the community has been without clean drinking water for long longer time, everybody is in a hurry for water
  • Lets celebrate water. The community now have clean drinking water
  • He is the head of the village and he is so excited about the water project. Finally his community will have clean drinking water
  • Training women and children about clean hand washing. They are the most vulnerable in the society
  • Workers are busy working while the children keep them company. They can’t wait to have water
  • Jainaba is glad the community has been provided with handwashing station. Here she is with her 1 year old baby
  • Concrete mixing
  • Men at Work
  • Removing the old rusty parts of the handpump
  • Removing bits and pieces of the handpump. As usual the hard and rusty iron makes it hard to remove and it requires lot of technique
  • Clearing the water source area from wild grass. The water source has broke down for years and it was filled with grass and dirt

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT 

  • The primary objective of this project is to provide clean drinking water and better sanitation for the people of the selected 5 villages in Foni Jarrol District as for the first phase of the project. This has been successfully achieved at the completion of the project.  
  • The Foni region has long suffered from the lack of clean drinking water. The region has been hit hard with mass felling of trees and frequent bush fires. Also, the conflict between Senegalese forces and separatist rebels in the southern Senegalese region of Cassamance has made things worse for the region of Foni as it shares a long border with Cassamance. Mass movement of refugees from the recent clashes has worsened the water crisis for communities hosting the refugees. One of the objectives of the project is to ease the pressure of the lack of clean drinking water in communities, as well as provide sanitation.  
  • One of the objectives of this project is to provide clean drinking water for marginalized vulnerable communities. Foni has a lot of isolated villages that feel abandoned and forgotten. This project has made them feel heard, socially included, and a part of humanity. For villages that lie closely on the borderline, most of the times felt abandoned due to fear as they are closer to the frontline.  
  • The project also empowers women and girls. We all know the burden women and girls bear in water collection. Statistics has shown that Foni is one of the lowest female enrolment rates in school. This clean water project will empower girls participation in school. The time spent on water collection is far shorter now for school-going girls. 
  • Another important objective of this project is to inculcate the habit of hand washing in communities. At each of the rehabilitated water sources in each community, a hand washing station is provided with detergents and also a learning session on the techniques of effective hand washing. Members of the community gather in the village square for the learning sessions. This is a tool to combat the spread of germs and other communicable diseases that could spread within communities especially after using the toilets. It also aids nursing mothers as well as children to understand the importance of hygiene and sanitation. Participation in the learning sessions was high. Community engagement was immense and enthusiastic. 
  • In the Fonis, open defecation is not as big a concern as it is in the central regions of the country. Nonetheless, another key objective of these water projects is to facilitate round-the-clock household access to water. This will steer people away from going outside to defecate. The availability of water in the households is a catalyst towards the cessation of open defecation. 
  • Another objective of these projects is to encourage women’s engagement in household-level horticulture gardening. Every rehabilitated water source includes a concrete watering trough. The water trough traps waste water from the hand pump and can be used by nearby houses for small-scale household horticulture vegetable gardening. This avoids the wastage of water and allows households to grow vegetables and enables their livestock to drink. This helps provide the households with a balanced diet and thereby alleviates the extreme poverty communities’ face especially in the dry season. 
  • Another key objective of this project is to cut down the high rate of water related illnesses in the recipient communities. Children often face the brunt when it comes to waterborne diseases. Certain households are drained of all resources when a family is struck with waterborne diseases. These water projects will lessen the burden on communities and money that would otherwise be spent on doctors or medicine can be used for food or for girls’ education instead. 
  • Setting up and training village water management committees was another objective of the project. We set up and trained water management committees in all the project communities. They help in the day-to-day management and maintenance of the water source. This will help make the project sustainable. As best practice, we ensure the committee is gender-balanced and that women have a say in the maintenance and management of the water source. Traditional women communicators known as ‘’Kanyeleng’’ are also involved in the sensitization of communities for better water management. 

Kampassa Village

 
  • Water is flowing finally the community have clean drinking water
  • One of the youth leaders in the community is happily demonstrating now they have water
  • Grandma came to offer her blessings to the water project. She is tremendously happy now they have clean drinking water
  • Solidifying the entire well with cement and gravel
  • One of the women is demonstrating what she has learned about the efective hand washing techniques
  • Head of the village, and village elders came to show their support and happiness for the project
  • Two senior women from the community women’s group inspect the hand washing station. They were trained on effective hand washing techniques
  • Removing the old cylinder replacing it with Grundfos stainless-steel high-quality cylinder of German Mark 2 handpumps for durability
  • The colaborative strength makes it work
  • Removing all bad parts of the handpump replacing it with high quality products is essential part of a sustainable water system for community

 

BENEFICIARY TESTIMONIAL 

The excitement and happiness are overwhelming in all the communities. Heads of villages of the respective 5 villages all expressed their sincere thanks for the project and happiness, highlighting the positive impact that these clean water projects have in their lives., the local councilor of the district Papieye Tamba who is also a health care practitioner for Sintet Health Center, heaped praises on and thanks to Water Charity. He also mentioned the social and economic importance of the water projects, as well as the tremendous importance of clean drinking water for the communities, especially in relation to the provision of education and the increased wellbeing. He also mentioned the importance and timeliness of the project given communities have experienced an influx of refugees from the Cassamance crisis. We are extremely happy about this water project. We often treat waterborne diseases at the clinic. This project will also help us in combating diseases. Safe drinking water, basic sanitation facilities and safe disposal of infectious wastes will prevent the spread of disease and improve health conditions. In all cases, good hygiene practices are key to preventing disease transmission. This is indeed joyful for the district especially my ward, he said.  Similar remarks were said by Amie Manneh, womens group leader. She emphasized the tremendous importance these water projects have on community’s empowerment and secure water supply. This will help us raise our families better she said. Healthy living is a healthy mind. We are very grateful for the projects she said. 

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 Dozens of cultural and social leaders within the beneficiary communities expressed their delight and happiness for these water projects, as they have come at a better time when they are faced with lots of challenges especially the refugee crisis. Water is the foundation of humanity they said. Sulayman Sanyang, a representative of the traditional chief Kutubo Sanyang, expressed thanks and gratitude for the water projects. He urged for peace, brotherhood and tranquility now that there is ample clean drinking water flowing in the 5 communities. He urged for the effective protection and proper management of the water sources. He also tasked the village development committees of the beneficiary communities to work closely with village water management committees for the sustainability of the projects.  

Thanks to the donors for making this project a success. 

Kamsambou Village

 
  • After completion of the project, everybody wants to have a zip from the water.They finally have clean drinking water in the community
  • The happiness of families when they have clean drinking water in their community
  • The joy of water
  • School children can now have a rest and concentrate on their education instead of traveling miles searching for water daily
  • His father is showing him how to do effective hand washing. The hand washing station is meant to inclucate the culture of hand washing
  • Women demonstrating how to do the effective hand washing
  • People gathering at the village square about to learn how to do effective hand washing techniques
  • Work in progress
  • Solidifying the well and water trough to provide water for domestic animals is important part of the project. It helps stop water wastage
  • Inserting new centralizers and rods
  • Removing the old cylinder
  • Completely removing the bad rusty parts of the hand pump replacing them with new quality sustainable parts

 

Sintet Village

 
  • Both handpumps are bringing out clean drinking water, to the delight of the community
  • Kombeh is demonstrating how to the effective hand washing that she just learned
  • 75 year old Kaddy also wants to help in what way she can, she cooks green tea for the workers as her contribution towards the project
  • Mounting new conversion heads
  • Solidifying the well and water trough to provide water for domestic animals is important part of the project. It helps stop water wastage
  • Some of the German Mark 2 handpump parts ordered from Germany by the contractor, just for durability and quality service for the project
  • All hands on deck
  • Some members of the community came out to support workers while others went to get food for them
  • Work in progress as they share ideas and technicalities of the work

 

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This project has been completed. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.

Busoga Region Borehole Program First Round Progress Report – Uganda

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Busoga Region Borehole Program First Round Progress Report – Uganda

The Busoga Region borehole program was launched on 13 March. The launch was attended by political and religious leaders, journalists, government officials, health teams and village elders. They discussed the land to be allocated for the borehole and the election of a Bore Hole Leadership Committee (BHLC). The purpose of the Bore Hole Leadership Committee (BHLC) is to ensure general cleanliness and maintenance of the water source and to mobilize the community to pay their monthly contribution of $0.27. The community elders were to be responsible for protecting the borehole. Each village provided free land for a borehole and part of the accommodation for the team working on the borehole. We focused on using local labor, as this creates employment opportunities and enables them to earn a living for their families.

On 14 March 2023, the digging of the boreholes started in three villages, Bulamangi(A), Bulamangi(B) and Kasolo, each of which received one borehole. There were 3 workers assigned to each well. Accommodation and food for the workers were provided by the project and sometimes voluntarily by the community.

To see project-related videos, CLICK HERE.

Progress & Success

  • This project is aimed to bring 50 boreholes in the 25 villages, each village is to get 2 new boreholes. So far we have managed to launch 3 new boreholes in Bulamangi(A), Bulamangi(B) (Bwanalira) and Kasolo Villages with a population of about 3300 people. This is a great milestone although the above need to receive more boreholes to continuously minimize the risks encountered during the search for clean water.
  • Safe Water access is made available in the 3 villages.
  • Water Charity along with the OKOA Hero’s Child Ministries, in collaboration with the Village Health Team, have been able to educate the community on how to use water to improve sanitation and hygiene in their homes.

Challenges Encountered and Actions Taken

CHALLENGES ACTION TAKEN
Material prices changed due to the unstable economy in the country. We managed to use a bargain for a good price.
Weather changes – Uganda majorly expects 2 seasons both dry and wet seasons.
Majorly during the rainy season it’s hard to dig the well since it makes it filled with water hence delaying work to be accomplished in the time frame.		 We used the Water pump to drain out water from the well and also used the chance that it’s at the other side positive that the soil is softener hence easing the work.
Hard rocky layer at well 1 and falling sticky soils at well 2 for more than 5-10 feet deep, which brought some delays. We used a rock-drilling machine to break through and good enough after a few days we managed to beat it.
For the sticky soils we had to use bricks and cement to block it from falling and this really
worked.
Accommodations for both labor workers and organization staff.
The village infrastructures are poor and squeezed.		 We had no solution rather than planning it for our next round of work.
Camping tents will be purchased during our next phase.
2 Casual workers suffered from Malaria. They all got treatment at the nearby health center. We plan that in our next phase, we will purchase a few antimalarials in case of an emergency.

Beneficiary Testimonials

Nakanda Aisha mentioned that she feels good to have Water in the community. Before, they have been loitering, moving in different directions to look for water. It’s of a good fortune that they now have water and thanked the organization.

Ramazan Bikhado(Jewewo) said that he thanks the organization for drilling them a borehole. Earlier, he visited the offices with a request for assistance since their village was badly off. They had only one borehole that broke down, at that point eating, bathing and washing was difficult. Therefore, he thanks the organization for rescuing them and prays that Allah rewards the organization.

Nabirye Stellah, a young mother in Bwanalira Village stated that she thanks Water Charity for bringing them water nearer. They have been struggling for water, walking long distances. At times their colleagues were delayed coming back from school…. the other borehole was locked and sometimes they decided to miss bathing. She said “Thank you very much Water Charity and May God Bless You!”

Balidawa Samson from Bwanalira Village expressed his thanks to Water Charity for donating them a borehole for water. Before, they have had multiple challenges since the water source was very far. Their children walked at night to look for water. Now that it’s near, they are thankful and pray for more boreholes for the safety of the children in the village.

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To see more testimonials, CLICK HERE. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.

Water Charity & Call To Nature Seedreservation & Permaculture Program – Ghana

Water Charity & Call To Nature Seedreservation & Permaculture Program – Ghana

Announcements

Water Charity & Call To Nature Seedreservation & Permaculture Program – Ghana

To read about the Call To Nature Seed Preservation & Permaculture Well Project, CLICK HERE.

Call To Nature’s mission is to care for the Earth, care for people, and share valuable resources by implementing permaculture principles, through farming, heirloom seeds saving, and providing hands-on training related to the importance of the use of permaculture in sustaining the environment and by creating a culture that is inspired by natural ways to produce seeds and food that will resolve food instability. Our business is one of the best in heirloom seed production in Africa and the first of its kind in Ghana. Our business relies on unique methods designed with nature in mind, through farming and production of high-quality seeds and food that will eventually lead to the end of food insecurity in many parts of the continent of Africa, and other areas around the world.

Our project has grown from just school gardening and tree planting and from 4 acres piece of land to 17 acres.5 years ago, we began collecting and reviving heirloom seeds across the world for our newly constructed seed bank in order to help resolve the issue of food insecurity and to tell all the beautiful stories around them from the origin, name source and use. Our seed collection is not only focusing on food but also on plant species that help protect our environment, especially species that help protect water bodies and species when intercrop retains moisture content in the soil so farmers can use less water for farming. Our operations are currently facing a huge water challenge on-site, we are therefore presenting our request to Water Charity for support.

SCHOOL / COMMUNITY GARDENING

In 2015 research conducted by Call Nature in some Ghanaian communities shows that about eight (8) out of ten (10) children are facing malnutrition due to poor eating habits. And as such, Call to Nature has developed a program that promotes school/community gardening for a healthier living lifestyle.  We plan to design at least ten (10) school gardens each year to connect the mindset of the people to nature and to provide better nutrition.

Plenty of studies have shown just how school gardens can stir students towards the right and more conscious decision-making.

Rural Community and Clinic Water Program, Centrale Region, Togo (Summary of FINAL ROUND 3)

Rural Community and Clinic Water Program, Centrale Region, Togo (Summary of FINAL ROUND 3)

Water For Everyone, Water For Everyone - Togo

Rural Community and Clinic Water Program, Centrale Region, Togo (Summary of FINAL ROUND 3)

This project has been completed. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE. To read the SUMMARY OF ROUND 2, CLICK HERE.

To read the SUMMARY OF BOREHOLE WELL HYDRAULIC DATA, CLICK HERE.

Five additional clinic and community access borehole wells were completed during this final phase, all in the Sotouboua district of the Centrale Region, for a total of (13) clinics in 2022 and (15) in 2018.  As with all the prior phases, clinic sites were selected from a list provided by the regional Ministry of Health (and modified by field assessment), implemented by the same local Togolese hydraulic firm (Multi-Ingénieurs Conseil) and supported by the regional Department of Hydraulics (Ministry of Rural Water and Sanitation). Assuming all households in the vicinity utilize the potable water source at the clinic, on average 3,500 more community members will benefit from the potable water provided at the new borehole wells, in addition to several thousand more benefiting as patients, particularly pregnant and birthing women and their relatives. Each of the (13) new sites are now equipped with lab-verified potable water from deep borehole wells ranging in depth from 52 to 145 meters, gravity-fed systems providing running water into the buildings, replacement/repair of indoor plumbing as needed, functioning faucets, water lines to some of the staff housing (paid by the clinic), a faucet outside the clinic for patient relative use and in all sites but one, community faucets on the water tower. The borehole water yields range from 2,150-7,200 liters/hr (with several in Rounds 1 and 2 exceeding 10,000 l/hr) indicating there is ample groundwater to supply all of these villages well into the future. The importance of deep borehole wells cannot be overstated as the majority of water sources in Togo in general are either unfiltered surface water or shallow 3-6 meter deep hand-dug wells where water infiltrates from the surface thereby collecting all of the waste and bacterial content from the land surface or moves laterally in the shallow subsurface from polluted streams or from latrines, buried waste dumps into these household water sources. All of the Water Charity borehole data from the 2018 to the current projects, have been incorporated into the national groundwater database, allowing for the communities served through this rural water project to be supplied with ample potable water well into the future if there are funds allocated to extend the current plumbing infrastructure. Most NGO well installations are implemented without the knowledge or participation of the regional government water agencies thus resulting in poor installation, a lack of follow-up and missed opportunities for augmenting local water supply.  Each clinic was provided with a site-specific operation and maintenance manual during the official opening. As with the two earlier phases and those from 2018, the after-birth systems (delineated below with an “*”) includes a simple bucket-flush (except for those clinics with pre-existing flush basin) vessel for after-birth discharge, a dedicated cement-lined septic tank, floor and birthing table drains and functioning indoor plumbing. This may be one of the most important contributions to the clinics themselves, as hygienic disposal of blood and tissue protects the staff and patients against blood-borne diseases, like Ebola. Not to mention, the privacy and hygienic conditions for both the midwife, patient, and relatives. Indoor plumbing of potable water allows the clinic staff and the patient community to benefit from microbial-free water and proper cleaning, anti-septic handwashing and cleaning of surfaces and laboratory equipment. The benefits of bacteria-free water are known the world over. Each borehole well was sampled once drilling was completed and analyzed at the regional government laboratory for microbial and inorganic constituents and the results compare to WHO standards. All (28) borehole wells completed in 2018 and 2022 meet or exceed the WHO standards. The original copies of the lab reports were given to each clinic head. Copies have been provided in all reports submitted by the program lead to Water Charity along with geologic borehole cross sections. While the world, in general, appears eager to “go solar”, the reality in Togo is there is a lack of trained technicians coupled to the very poor quality of imported solar panels.  With the exception of very simple arrays designed to light a few light bulbs in the clinics, non-functioning solar panels and by extension malfunctioning solar-powered water pumps are in evidence throughout the region.

SITE NAME OF RURAL CLINIC : Sotouboua Prefecture

To see related videos to this project. Click Here.

BALANKA

Balanka is situated in the district of Tchamba near the Benin border. Its 10,700 inhabitants are predominantly Muslim of the Anii ethnic group. While a trading center, those not involved directly in commerce are subsistence farmers. The government installed a municipal water system in 2017, which was to provide the clinic with running water however the poor quality infrastructure (broken pipes, poor water pressure and quality) left the clinic and maternity building without running water.  The original clinic is of the same manner as most of the project sites; two buildings were built in 1994 of banco brick with an unpotable, open-well water source. In 2017, a new modern maternity building was built by a Togolese member of the community living in France, financed by both his association and his in-laws. Completed in 2018, this modern birthing center is equipped with an ultra-sound machine and several flush toilets and showers, but lacked running water. The only water source was the open well situated between the two buildings. The clinic at Balanka was not on the Ministry of Health list as a center needing water, rather the head midwife who had benefitted from Water Charity’s borehole program in 2018, mentioned the lack of water and the need for a borehole water system, as the sole water source for both the maternity center and clinic was the open well. Given the substantial resources already allocated to build the maternity center (which sees on average 40 births per month), Water Charity added Balanka to the project list with some assistance from the donors in France. There is electric power in Balanka. The borehole yielded 3,200 liters/hr at a depth of 90 meters, sufficient for equipping the two buildings and for the needs of the neighboring households. The cement water tower is higher than at the other sites given the extensive plumbing needed in the maternity center. Given the rather complex plumbing in the maternity building (i.e. numerous toilets and showers), there will be a need for frequent maintenance and upkeep.

  • Completed tower
  • Borehole drilling: construction of 8-m water tower to supply both maternity center and Clinic
  • Old water source: Open, unpotable well
  • The clinic staff (in white coats)
  • Photo with the women and children who attended the opening reception
  • Work in progress
  • Head of the village
  • Mosque, neighboring courtyard.
  • The original cement-brick clinic built in 1994 used today as primary clinic for Affossala
  • View inside the maternity clinic
  • Ultrasound machine currently non-functioning
  • Head midwife in maternity clinic built in 2018 by a Togolese doctor living in France and his in-laws

AFFOSSALA

After the initial meeting in March, 2022 with members of the hydraulic team (in front holding notebooks), clinic staff and members of the community

Affossala, located in the Tchamba prefecture, is a large village of 10,500 inhabitants comprised of Bagué, the original inhabitants, Kabyé, Losso, Kotikoli, Moba and Peuhl (Fulani), both nomadic and sedentary. All major religions are present, including “les hommes libres” i.e. free men! According to the head nurse!  Affossala is divided into (10) neighborhoods, each with their own head. Currently, the village has 4/6 functioning manual borehole wells. The clinic was built in 2005 by Plan International, a typical six-room cement-brick building with plumbing and no water source outside of the non-potable open well. Several years later the well was retrofitted with a metal water tower, a metal water tank, and a manual pump though with the same intermittent open water source. Prior to the current project, the clinic staff utilized a neighboring water source. Affossala has a municipal water project in development and was initially not slated to be included in the present project. However, after several weeks of bantering about with various village and government officials on why the village’s only health center was not prioritized for access to this “public” water system, the clinic head and the regional hydraulic director made a successful push for an independent water source. Municipal water systems in Togo are known for frequent malfunctions, sometimes for months at a time. At the time of drilling, a municipal waterline was in place in front of the clinic implying the neighborhood would receive community water. Early meetings with the community indicated there was little interest in assisting the clinic with the purchase of petrol for the generator or repairs. Given this and the presence of borehole wells nearby, the Affossala clinic was not equipped with community faucets on the water tower. Drilling down to a depth of 92 meters with a water yield of 2,150 liters/hr assures both potability and a long-lasting water source. The water system is the sole use of and responsibility of the clinic staff and patients. The pump is operated by a gas-powered generator. Affossala may be electrified in the coming year at which time the water pump can be converted to run-on electricity.

Opening day
  • Head of the Clinic
  • Midwife
  • Working on reinforcing the existing metal tower (over now sealed former open well)
  • Fulani brother and sister inside the Affossala Clinic

KAZABOUA

The seat of the Canton, Kazaboua is comprised of (8) villages. The clinic was built in 2009 by an Arab NGO with the usual open-well water source. At the time of the initial visit, there were no borehole wells in the village of 6,500 inhabitants. As with the other villages, the population if of mixed ethnicity and religion, and subsistence farming (maize, yam, peanuts, soya and sorghum) the primary occupation with household livestock. The household are both dispersed i.e. homes adjacent to fields or grouped together. During the cultivation season (May-September) the number of people accessing the clinic well increases. There are few latrines in the village and none at the clinic. The clinic, with the assistance of the village, in 2019, installed a submersible pump to install running water into the building in addition to an after-birth discharge system. The clinic was listed as having water and was omitted from the list of planned projects until a visit indicated the source of water inside the clinic was from the non-potable open source well. There is electric power in the village. The borehole pump test yielded a high volume of water (6,700 l/hr) at a depth of 60 meters, sufficient to allow for an expansion of community access points in the future.

  • Reinforced water tower, plumbed  to submersible pump and fed by gravity from the water tank to the clinic. Pump water filter visible on tower.
  • Midwife
  • A submersible pump installed in shallow, hand-dug well. Water is intermittent and non-potable.
  • Pre-existing cement water tower with hand-crank pump
  • Adoli (contracting director) in the midground explaining the functioning and maintenance of the well
  • Official Opening: A toast with the village Chefs of local millet beer
  • Official opening. July 2022
  • Community faucet at a height above the bearer’s head facilitating the transport of water to the households. Michel, field technician.
  • Clinic staff
  • Clinic Head with running water replacing the blue bucket system
  • Initial community meeting

FAZAO

Fazao clinic with head nurse and pharmacist

Fazao, one of the most scenic villages, is situated next to a large natural reserve along the foothills of the Fazao mountains. The original settlement in this region of Sotouboua, Fazao is a Muslim community of cultivators and herders. Predominantly members of the Kotokoli and Tem ethnic groups (unusual in an area comprised mostly of Christian and animist Kabyé), the village has benefited from assistance from some of its members in Europe, part of the so-called “ Diaspora”. However, once again, the lack of oversight and poorly trained personnel resulted in failed water projects throughout the village. The clinic was built in 1992 and remodeled in 2017 with funds from the diaspora. There are (6) borehole wells in Fazao though currently, only three are working. Until very recently, there were no residential clinic staff in Fazao. As a result, the patient attendance is very low compared to other clinics however with the installment of a full-time nurse and midwife assistant, the number of patients seen at the clinic are rising. The community and its leaders are more motivated than many other project sites in addition to the community members willing to pay for water, an important element for the clinic as there is currently no electric power in Fazao thus requiring the purchase of diesel to run the pump generator. There are newly installed power poles in Fazao implying the village will be connected to the power grid sometime soon.  There are no lights in the clinic as the existing solar panels are no longer functioning. Nighttime Patient care and births are illuminated with cell phones. The borehole well yielded 5,300 liters/hr at a depth of 90 meters, far above the current clinic needs, however, the water shortage in the surrounding households and in the village, in general, will be adequately met now and into the foreseeable future as the population of Fazao increases.

  • Non-functioning water tower, solar panels and one of several hand pumps attached to this old water project.
  • Nightime borehole drilling
  • Foundation for cement posts for water tower
  • Septic tank for maternity room
  • Laying pipe from the borehole well to the water tower
  • Core members of the hydraulic contractor, Multi-Ingénieurs Conseils
  • Goats on steps of abandoned staff housing
  • Tiled water distribution center with several faucets near the clinic none of which now work as borehole was either not drilled to a bedrock depth or poorly equipped.
  • Building the 6-meter cement water tower
  • Opening day
  • View out towards the national forest reserve
  • Kids in the village
  • View of village from the main road

MELAMBOUA

Melamboua is on the road to Fazao, one of the project sites in the district of Sotoubou. Another old clinic was built in 1990 by the NGO Plan International. A typical 6-room brick building without electricity or potable water, serving a population of 5,500 inhabitants scattered about (14) villages. The existing water source is the standard shallow open well used by the nearby households. In 2016, according to a plaque on the metal tower, the Red Cross added the water tower, a hand crank pump, and plumbing into the building however no changes in the water source, which remained non-potable. The entire apparatus ceased functioning within the year. The village is comprised predominantly of Kabyé ethnic group however there are both nomadic and sedentary Fulani. A high water yield of 7,200 liters/hr was reached at 60 meters, sufficient to supply the community with potable water for several years to come assuming the water system is well maintained. While the clinic did not have electric power at the start of the project, the regional Ministry of Health director accelerated the positioning of an electric meter and within a few weeks of the center had electricity and the water pump was hooked up accordingly.

  • Pharmacist in birthing room
  • Head of clinic in front of old water source
  • A neighboring Fulani household
  • Neighboring Fulani household
  • Students waiting for vaccinations
  • Kids watching the drilling with incinerator in background
  • Flushing out completed borehole
  • Ingrid doing geophysics
  • Official opening. July 2022
Foni Jarrol District Handpump Repair Tour Phase One—The Gambia

Foni Jarrol District Handpump Repair Tour Phase One—The Gambia

Water For Everyone, Water For Everyone - The Gambia

Foni Jarrol District Handpump Repair Tour Phase One—The Gambia