Sunday, August 26, 2012


Safe-Drinking-Water
Water distribution systems in Nepal are mostly focused on the urban centers. The water distribution systems beyond these urban centers are managed by the local communities, private sectors, local water user groups, etc. The quality of the water supply is always the matter of questioning for safety due to lack of filtration system, no use of disinfection and no proper maintenance.

The conditions in the hilly and mountainous regions are even worse compared to the plain areas of Nepal with limited sources of water. Even though the source is found, it remains hard to make the pipeline distribution system, often becomes long and tedious task to accomplish. Hence the people have to collect water from the far sources and spend hours for the daily need of water. The tragedy behind water use in Nepal is that, the water collected from this much of hardship is also not safe for drinking purpose due to the pollution in the source or due to bad storage vessels. The fact sheet released by Water Partners International depicts that 88% of the whole diseases are the waterborne diseases. 4,900 children are dying every day due to diarrhea. According to Asian Development Bank (ADB) report sanitation-related diseases account for 72 per cent of total ailments and diarrhea continues to be one of the leading causes of childhood deaths in Nepal. Other common illnesses are dysentery, coughs and skin diseases.

Therefore an instant action for the safe drinking water supply is the must in the present context of Nepal. Among various techniques developed for the safe drinking water, the use of Chlorine solution (or sodium hypochlorite) - a chemical compound that destroys and inactivates micro-organisms and pathogens in water - is a powerful disinfectant widely used.
Objective
The general objective of the campaign is to provide the communities with safe drinking water and improved sanitation of the surrounding. The specific objectives of the campaign are :

  • To promote the safe supply of drinking water in schools to prevent children from water borne diseases.
  • To increase the school attendance and students enrollment.
  • To aware communities in safe drinking water and sanitation through school child.
Key intervention
ECCA has initiated the campaign by using chlorine solution – which is locally produced from concentrated common salt solution, through an electrolysis process. It is simple to use, robust and sustainable technology. The device requires only DC source or solar panel, a clean plastic container (not metallic), common salt and clear water.

The necessary quantity of active chlorine concentrate (sodium hypochlorite) for water treatment depends on the initial water quality. For an average water quality, 1 litre of concentrated salt solution can treat about 52,000 litres of water. Once treated water is used, health condition will improve; thereby enhancing the livelihood of the general populace.

Web page information with acknowledgement to Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness


Evidence of empowerment and change of attitude

During June, I returned to Nepal and visited Mirge to personally check out the progress of the 'Herbal Garden' at Kalidhunga Higher Secondary School and the volunteer accommodation, catch up with teachers, community members, and meet and plan the next activities with the staff at ECCA.

The start to our journey to Mirge was an amusing and somewhat frantic beginning. Angel had organised micro-bus tickets for our party, which included Sean who was to be our first volunteer in this program. We arrived early but unsuccessfully searched for our bus at the Bus Park. We eventually heard that there was no bus to Mainapokhari because it had developed mechanical problems. We frantically went from bus ticket seller to ticket seller trying to get on another bus which would be heading in the same direction. The situation was getting desperate and it looked like the trip was going to be cancelled. However, I was insistent and determined to get to Mirge because I was eager to see the progress of the program and talk to teachers about its impacts. Constant monitoring is an important part of my involvement in the program. So with a quick call to a reliable travel agent we had within a few minutes reorganized the transport and contracted a 4-wheel drive and driver to get us on our way. In the end this was by far the better solution as we could get directly to the schools and avoid a 3 hour walk which we would have had to have done if we had taken the bus. So determination won out and 6.5 hours later we arrived at KHSS.

We were greeted by a beaming and animated principal, Bombari Dahal. Dragging me by the arm to look at a group of men and women who were sifting soil at a new building site, he displayed the  broadest smile I had seen for a long time and with broken English that translated roughly as "look, look. Community!", he pointed at the beginnings of a new passive solar classroom in construction. I could sense that something had significantly changed in the attitude of Bombari, the community and other school staff. 

Herbal Garden
As Angel showed me the new 'Herbal Garden' which had been initiated by the student's Nature Club as a result of the Reformation and Management Training back in May, he told me that since this training Bombari had observed a radical change of attitude in his students. He attributed this to the emerging success of the Nature Club. I immediately felt like jumping up and 'punching in the air' like so many sportspeople do now after winning a hard earned victory on the tennis court or football pitch. However, I contained this and internally and silently yelled to myself "YES! They get it! It's working!"

New look KHSS Library
In regard to tangible results I could see and celebrate the efforts of the community who had come together to establish the Herbal Gardens, the water fountains and 7000 litre storage tank, but my absolute joy was in response to the subtle evidence of empowerment, ownership and responsibility within the teachers, community members and students. At last I had confirmation that this process was working and I contemplated at the time that we must support this enthusiasm until it is permanently embedded in those who it will benefit. After all, this program is entirely about empowerment and the skills of self-managing change. 

Clean Water Drinking Fountain
At the time of this post, the WATASOL water purification program had just been completed and I await eagerly the report. I have added a link to the details of this program and you are invited to read about the goals and processes that will lead to a sustainable community based approach to water purification. With careful management gastroenteritis and associated health issues will be eliminated from this community while simultaneously creating an income stream for the school. I will report on the programs details in the next blog.

 Thank you again for your ongoing support and I look forward to telling you more about the latest developments.