Orbis Provides Clean Water to Save Sight, Ethiopia

Building Water Stations in Bonke Woreda

One of the best ways to prevent the transmission of trachoma is by encouraging face and hand washing but this is not easy in Ethiopia where clean water is scarce. Good personal hygiene will help to slow the spread of bacteria which causes infection and ultimately prevent people from contracting trachoma. ORBIS representatives train teachers, community leaders and women’s groups about facial cleanliness, personal hygiene, environmental sanitation and how to wash hands effectively to prevent the spread of bacteria.

It is important that water is readily available before this training can be completely effective. One of the biggest challenges in water development and provision, along with the initial high cost) is the maintenance and follow –up of its function.

In Bonke woreda in southern Ethiopia, a large percentage of the water-pumps were non functional. ORBIS implemented a strategy to repair the non-functional water schemes this year. Up to the end of October 2012, four water scheme developments, two gravity and two on spot capping and pipeline networking of four water sources in Bonke woreda were undertaken in collaboration with WaterAid and Mekane Yesus Church.

It is estimated that these developments will give about 1,200 households or 6,000 individual’s access to clean water. In addition, one school communal latrine was constructed in collaboration with the aforementioned partners, also in Bonke woreda, benefitting an estimated 1,800 students.    

Two communal latrines were also constructed at community selected sites in Konso. ORBIS supported the cost of construction materials and skilled labourers. The community also contributed by providing water, sand and labour. This collaborative effort, as shown in previous years, has brought strong community ownership, both of the water stations and the latrines. 

 21 November 2012

Links:

• Saving sight worldwide
• saving sight in southern Ethiopia

Mulatu Gabre is a health officer who has worked with ORBIS in Konso, Ethiopia for more than 4 years. He has extensive knowledge and experience in eye care programs, particularly in eradicating trachoma. He knows the area very well and is actively involved in water development activities.

The impact of working in water development is beyond trachoma control and is directly related to the quality of life of the community. Major childhood killer diseases are related with poor hygiene and sanitation and scarcity of water. Hence, working or contributing towards this activity not only reduces the prevalence of trachoma, but improves quality of life throughout a community. 

To reduce the episodes of trachoma ORBIS is desperately trying to transform this region. ORBIS aims to eliminate trachoma from this region not only through conducting eye surgery to correct the disease and through distributing the antibiotic zithromax (kindly donated by Pfizer), but also by improving sanitation by providing clean water and building latrines.

In the fight against blinding trachoma, the roles of schools are found to be very significant. In linking schools with Health extension workers, community health agents, integrated eye care workers and identifying children with sight problems, teachers play a central role. Through teacher training and establishing eye care clubs in schools, it is possible to access communities to bring long term behavioral changes and greater impacts at community level. 

With your support we will continue to work towards completely transforming this region so the next generation can grow up free of the threat of blindness.