We are taking clean water to children in Tanzania!

Children need clean water to survive and thrive - yet only 4% of Tanzania’s population has water piped directly to their homes, and only 54% of the rural population have access to a safe water supply.

But now, thanks to the generous support of people like you, UNICEF New Zealand has been able to provide clean water to thousands of children and their families in 3 districts of Tanzania.
 
We are pleased to report that this project has now been fully funded through our generous donors, and of course, matching funding by Gareth and Jo Morgan.
 

Achievements TO DATE

Outreach has been undertaken to communities and councils in Magu and Makete districts to educate and mobilise regional health leaders, water user committees and village members. 124 villages have received training around the sustainable construction, use and development of water source facilities, and hygiene practices.  The UNICEF country office also made improved latrine options available to communities at the same time.  The result:

• Councils at district and ward level made sanitation and hygiene a priority, and started to implement sanitation plans at the beginning of 2008.
• So far in Magu district about 760 households have constructed improved latrine options.
• Engaging with communities is crucial.  In many cases water pumps installed with UNICEF support years ago are still operating today and are fully managed by the community because of this initial engagement.  In many ways the success of a project depends upon uptake at the community level.
• Kisesa Health Centre has received a rainwater harvesting tank with a 46 cubic-metre capacity.  The health centre has between 150 and 200 patients per day (over 60,000 patients per year) who now have access to clean, safe water – crucial to limit cross-infection and provide adequate care.  Read More.
• Lubugu Secondary School has received a rainwater harvesting tank.  The Lubugu tank will benefit 321 pupils and their teachers, who until now have had to fetch water from a well 1km away from the school, which they shared with two other villages. 
• A 70m deep water borehole for Malili Village was finished in January 2009 - providing water for the sub-village, the local primary and secondary schools and communities within a 1 km area.  Read More.
• The construction of 16 hand-pumped boreholes in Magu - benefiting 4,800 people and increasing the amount of available safe water in the district by 10% (completed as of December 09).
• A gravity piped water supply system for Malanduku Village in Makete – The villagers in Malanduku currently have to walk up steep hills to access water and the villagers suffer from regular bouts of diarrhoea and worms.  The new water supply system significantly improves the health and well-being of this community (completed as of December 09).
• Three schools in Makete, Mwera, Mfumbi and Mkange are received 16 toilets, benefiting approximately 1,080 children (completed as of January 10).

OVER THE NEXT 6-12 MONTHS

• A further eight schools in Makete and Magu will receive latrines.
• Rainwater harvesting systems, hand-washing facilities and hygiene promotion will be put in place in 12 schools in Magu and Makete.
• The construction of 14 medium depth hand dug wells with hand pumps in Pemba (materials have been purchased)

Upon completion of this project, children and their families living in the Makete, Magu and Pemba districts of Tanzania will not only have access to clean drinking water – they will also be aware of how simple actions like hand washing can save lives, and have the skills and knowledge they need to repair and maintain their new water pumps, wells and tanks. 

villagers benefit from safe water closer to home

More than 1250 villagers are benefiting from the 17 hand-pumps that are now being installed in Lutale, Kisesa and Shigala wards, with funds provided by the UNICEF New Zealand National Committee. Read more.

safe water for mothers and children

Hundreds of mothers and children will benefit from a new rain water harvesting tank at Kisesa Health Centre. Read more.

NEW WELL BRINGS HOPE

Villagers are hopeful that the construction of a new well, with funds from UNICEF NZ, will provide them with a reliable and safe water supply that is separate from livestock and free from water borne diseases. Read more.