Buwagi Project
Iganga District Hospital
Water for Kids in Uganda
Evaluation
Kate Rogers' dissertation for her Masters degree in Environmental Health was titled “An evaluation of environmental health outcomes achieved through the UK-based charity 'Water for Kids’ projects in Iganga district, Uganda”. It was completed in September 2009 and the trustees of Water for Kids are implementing the recommendations."
Water for Kids helps the Best Rural District Hospital in Uganda
For the second year running the Iganga District Hospital has won the Ugandan Rural District Best Hospital Award. This hospital has benefited from the money WfK has spent on improving its water systems during the last two years and from those on the field trips who have worked hard to improve the wards. The hospital serves a population of over half a million people.
Background
Since 2005 Water for Kids (WfK) has worked in partnership with Daventry
Friends of Iganga and has contributed towards the protection
of ten spring water sources and the installation of a borehole with pump.
As a result tens of thousands of people in villages near the town of Iganga
in Eastern Uganda have access to clean water for the first time. In addition
WfK has funded water supplies to two clinics and a centre for the blind
and has repaired five village hand pumps which were not working. All this
has been achieved at a cost of £16,114 to Water for Kids.
Peter Minhinnett is a trustee of both WfK and Daventry
friends of Iganga. Following twelve years of twinning of Daventry and
Iganga, a strong working relationship has been built up with the health
department of Iganga Town Council and especially with
Muzamiru Bidondole who is a Senior Health Assistant.
Iganga is a market town with many villages lying within the Iganga District.
WfKs work has focussed mainly on the rural areas. Muzamiru has identified
poor water sources for protection. They have been transformed from contaminated
ponds with unsafe access for collecting water, to clean spring water supplies
running from a pipe and draining away. The drainage is important, because
any ponding water will attract mosquitoes, which carry the malaria bug.
Most of the work has happened during the annual study trip to Uganda.
Peter has taken over twenty people to Iganga each year, since 2005 to
work with local people. They have not only improved the water supply,
they have also contributed to the refurbishment of two clinics and a centre
for blind people.
Evidence of the health improvements resulting from the provision of clean
water is shown by better attendance at local schools. According to the
head teachers the pupils have fewer stomach upsets. In addition the pupils
turn up on time and are more alert, as they do not have to walk long distances
to fetch water.
For more details of WfK's
work in Uganda click here.
Uganda Field Trip 09
