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Wells in Nigeria
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We are pleased to set
out below details of Donate For Life's latest project that is a
further extension of what is now our central programme - the provision
of clean water and sanitation to rural communities in Africa.
For the first time we will be working in Nigeria, which could be a
challenge, but fortunately our partners are already very well known
to us.
The Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF), a non-governmental organization,
was established in Nigeria in 1992 with the purpose of alleviating
poverty through the provision of healthcare to rural communities.
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in primary health care, eye care and the provision of access to safe
drinking water in various parts of the country.
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Safe Drinking Water Program
The basics have already been set up in Kebbi State in North-Western
Nigeria and currently cover 200 drinking water points spread across
the state. Rather than drill new bore holes, TCF have embarked upon
a programme of rehabilitating existing hand-pumps that have been rendered
dysfunctional.
The costs of repair are considerably less (about US$600) than building
new boreholes (about US$2,000). The pumps are identified in consultation
with local communities who are then given help to recondition them.
An integral part of the program is to collect a contribution from
the communities in terms of money, materials and labour. A committee
is formed whose job it is to mobilise resources from the community
surrounding the water point and to nominate people who are trained
to service and maintain the hand-pump. It is also the responsibility
of the committee to ensure that the hand-pump is maintained and quickly
repaired in case of malfunction.
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Depots carrying common spares and
a full set of tools are created close at hand under the supervision
of TCF. TCF's role is to identify the communities requiring assistance
and to organise them into helping themselves. TCF also provides technical
and financial assistance and procures the spare parts for reconditioning
and spares. It conducts training programs for the village representative
in hand-pump repair. Teams of supervisory mechanics make regular visits
to the reconditioned pumps to ensure that they are kept in good working
order.
Our role is to raise the necessary funds to continue this work and
to monitor progress. |
Besides reconditioning the pumps,
the program also provides a hygienic environment around them to ensure
safe drinking water. This includes mobilising the community to repair
the apron and provide for a cornice to prevent spillage and a long
drain with a soak-pit to carry off the waste water. A fence and a
washing slab also ensure that the water point is not misused. Without
this the facility is used for the watering of animals, clothes washing
and drinking water. The effluent from the first two uses simply soaks
into the ground to the water table below, fouling the water and rendering
the pump useless. This process is very simple to understand but highlights
that in Africa simple provision is not sufficient. People need to
be trained, for without it good intention simply results in a short
term gain.
It is encouraging to note that at any given point of time 95% of rehabilitated
pumps are in good working order.
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© 2005 Donate For Life. Registered charity number 1078369
