Clean Water Access

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

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RRHS -Director's Message to the people:

Sanitation and hygiene is a process that entails:

• Safe disposal of human excreta i.e. safe isolation of human excreta from the environment and hand washing after every visit to toilet.
• Safe disposal of solid and liquid waste i.e. putting waste to its final resting place in such a way that it does not endanger life and natural resources.
• Maintenance of personal, domestic and food hygiene i.e. keeping one’s body and other personal effects, his household and food preparations and storage in such a way that does not expose him to danger.
• Safe collection, storage and use of water mainly for drinking. This refers to collection of water from a safe source using safe utensils or containers, storing it safely until it is safely consumed. 
• Control of insects and rodent vectors such as mosquitoes, flies and rats among others i.e. denying disease transmitting organisms any sanctuary from where it can multiply and attack a homestead.

As a result of poor sanitation in this area, especially rural areas, people suffer from a wide range of preventable illnesses, among others: diarrhea. Improving access to sanitation is a good investment because:

· Sanitation is important for human health

· Sanitation generates economic benefits

· Sanitation contributes to human dignity and social development

· Sanitation Sustains the environment

We call upon willing friends globally to supplement our efforts in improving sanitation.  

“Every little bit of advice from you helps” 

Send us an email at rural services60@gmail.com to learn more. 

Reflecting the real situation:   

In this part of the country, like in many other developing countries, there is environmental degradation and pollution, water scarcity, and water pollution, poor housing, poor methods of waste disposal, poverty and a lot of human suffering in regard to environmental health. 

RRHS- in the year 2011,  received a development grant from the Belgium Development Cooperation –Micro intervention program (MIP). The grant was conditional to construct Rain-Water Harvesting Tanks in the area of Rukoki Sub county, Kasese –District.-Uganda (hard to reach). View sample  pictures below. You can also be the next development partner to this project. In order to sustain this project, the beneficiaries of tanks on 30th November 2014 resolved to start a saving and credits scheme. The Development  scheme is benefiting  all interested persons from one Parish. Email us for details.

Researcher- in a hard to reach area, collecting data on rain water harvesting tanks build by -RRHS

Let us together with you make clean water and safe sanitation accessible to people in difficult to reach areas. Rwenzori Rural Health Services a community based organization in Kasese -District Uganda, is struggling to provide safe water to strayed areas.

Nyakabingo Water Hygiene and sanitation Project : (Gravity flow scheme)

Before the year 2004, most people in this area were walking more than two hours across the hills to reach a water source (Natural Water Spring) and were taking approximately 60 seconds to fill a twenty litter gallon. To overcome the major problem of accessing clean water for domestic use, RRHS and the community started the project by protecting three natural water springs and joining them to increase the volume of water. This plan was further developed by the RRHS- online project consult Mr. Jim Chapman - based in  USA.

One of the three natural intake water springs that we protected

Financial resources to this project phase was Donated by Volunteers Without Boundaries -USA.

After Joining the three water springs, Volunteers without Boundaries donated funds to construct  a tank of approximately 40,000 litters that supports   a min gravity flow scheme.
 

In the bush, across the hill, we constructed a small water collection tank . The small tank has  three intake areas, and a provision for water over flow. All the water from three intake sources first is collected before it continues to the big tank below. This was  done to increase pressure. This was  a very good and simple technology. Always feel free to come and discover. 

Mothers actively participated in collecting shapeless stones to build the tank.

Before the tank was constructed, community members collected strips of stones that were used to build the big tank. The tank you see is built with shapeless stones.

Water reservoir tank build by RRHS/ VWB  & the community. 

From this big tank, with Funds from Volunteers without boundaries - USA; we piped clean water to serve a primary school and communities along the line.

Piping water across hills and valleys was a very interesting activity.

It was like a dream to have water at this school. RRHS has now fictionalized the plastic tank

We piped water; across valleys and big hills. It is time for you to come and discover.

At the School, we constructed a wash room for girls. The only one of it's kind in the area. Girls, during their menstrual periods, wash and continue with studies.

 

RRHS -Staff  training pupils to make Reusable Menstrual pads. Email us to learn more.

Rwenzori Rural Health Services has  continued to support schools in promoting public health. The picture below shows RRHS  Staff demonstrating making use of a hand washing  facility and emphasising on washing after every visiting a toilet, before eating and after.

Demonstrating hand washing facility at a school in Kasese-Uganda.

RRHS is encouraging pupils to eat while at school (Mid day meals). Email us to learn more at ruralservices60@gmail.com

Due to accessibility of  water in this area, over 50 permanent houses have been built by residents. 

RRHS  Executive Director and Staff in a planning meeting

RRHS - Staff Members 2012.

Note:  The One with  A note book  is Mr. B.Adidas a volunteer in charge of water projects.
Next is Ms B.Julian  -Project - Health Inspector  .
Next is Ms Kabugho  Moreen - Project Administrator
Next is Sylvia Delegate from FCDE -RRHS  Partner
Next is O.B.Miremba -Project Senior Health Inspector. 
Next is Mr. Kiima T.Charles - Executive Director.

Scaling Up Water Access Project

On 11th March 2015, at the ceremonial function of ending the first water project, the two neighboring communities, requested RRHS to scale up the project to benefit more people. The leaders of the  two villages informed RRHS of the Natural spring that was constructed  before 1968; but still giving very good volume of water. On 13th June 2015, RRHS Delegation mobilized the intended beneficiaries to clean the spring in preparation for a brighter future. The spring that people use now is hidden in the bush as you may see. Read below to follow the story:

RRHS  and the beneficiaries have cleaned the bush, opening the water source for people to use. Everyone here is surprised and happy to have a clean water source. RRHS believe that  "Development is a process." There is need to continue teaching rural people about the values of Good Health. RRHS appeals to friends globally, to join hands and ensure that this Natural spring is improved to a gravity flow. Follow the story below:

After Cleaning the water source, every person was able to tell  that the water is enough to be gravitated. The Director RRHS  as you see him work,  said " what is required of now is to mobilize resources to purchase materials for constructing/ improving the sources, constructing the reserve   water tank, acquiring HDP pipes, and then extend clean water within reach of people."  After this, peoples time will be saved for other development activities hence alleviating poverty for all. Tell a friend about this community organization. Keep following the story!

RRHS Intern, from Colorado College USA, in July 2015, visited to discover the  water source proposed for a Min gravity flow to benefit  RRHS  Village 2. The  Purpose of the intern's visit was to be able to inform external willing friends about the current situation. Invite your friends to like this page.

The RRHS Intern and a professional Registered Midwife, after assessing the level of community understanding of HIV/AIDS, decides to train on the 'Dangers of HIV/AIDS' and cross cultural experiences.
This is the time for you to plan and come to share your related skills. continue  viewing pictures

The picture below: Community members in a meeting discussing to start a savings and credits Group. This is like a village bank. Community members have agreed  to  start saving in this group, and taking small credits. By the time of realizing funding for this project, all planned beneficiaries will have been used to the system. Operations and maintenance will be easy. This project sustainability strategy has already worked well in the first village. We have already developed cash receipt books, savings books, Member application forms, and official loan application forms. Mr. Kiima T.Charles, RRHS  Executive Director, is seen explaining to the people how a self driven  system works

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A team of thirty five stakeholders, decides to come for another meeting to plan for the proposed min gravity flow scheme project. Email us for details : ruralservices60@gmail.com/ or find us on Facebook.

To continue following the story, click and follow the link below:

RRHS Facebook Page