The citizens of Kassanda district are rejoicing over a significant development in their pursuit of dependable, clean water sources at their health center IIIs.
This positive change is courtesy of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which, with financial support from the United Kingdom Department for International Development (UKAID), has installed seven solar-powered water stations. All seven health center IIIs in the district, including those situated in the town councils of Kassanda, Bukuya, and Kiganda, have benefited from these water stations.
This initiative carries profound importance, particularly in the aftermath of the Ebola Sudan virus outbreak between September 2022 and January 2023, which claimed 54 lives in Kassanda district alone.
Dr. Herbert Nabaasa, the commissioner for environmental health in the Ministry of Health, shed light on the challenges faced during the Ebola outbreak due to water scarcity. He emphasized that combating Ebola was exceptionally challenging in the water-stressed district, where a substantial amount of water is needed to prevent its spread.
Nabaasa underscored the critical role of an ample water supply in preventing the spread of diseases and expressed optimism that these newly installed solar-powered stations will bolster outbreak management and support healthcare in the health centers.
Nabaasa recognized that, despite the government’s establishment of health centers, the absence of safe water has compromised sanitation and health service delivery in many areas.
Patrick Kasingo, the LC1 chairperson of Kanugga village, echoed the community’s reliance on rainfall and swamps for water, attributing it to disease outbreaks. He believes that the introduction of these water points will significantly elevate sanitation standards in the area.
During the commissioning of the water stations at Makokoto Health Center III, Philip Smith, the developments director at the British High Commission in Uganda, emphasized their goal of providing safe water to over 30,000 people in these regions. This initiative aligns with the UK government’s efforts to support Uganda’s health centers lacking access to safe water, thereby enhancing healthcare quality.
Munir Safieldin, the UNICEF country representative, underscored the role of Infection Prevention and Control mechanisms (IPC) during outbreaks and emphasized the need of such measures to curb disease transmission, especially in health centers.
Safieldin revealed the establishment of water operation and management committees, collaboratively managed with the community, responsible for daily operations, maintenance, and collecting nominal fees for water usage.
He also disclosed that one member from each community is trained in the maintenance of the water station to ensure sustainability.
The introduction of solar-powered water stations not only alleviates immediate water scarcity but also paves the way for improved healthcare and disease prevention within the region.