Clean Water Program

One of my projects this visit has been the implementation of a water filter program. I trialled it last year with a disabled woman, Njoki, with great success. 

So now on a much larger scale, Agnes and the Women’s Ministry team identified 6 women/families. First up for me was to meet the families in their homes so I could assess any particular hygiene needs prior to conducting a workshop for them. Mmmph... chose the hottest, windiest afternoon to trudge the slums with Agnes. I must be getting soft.

Most families in the Kihoto slum live in compounds with shared facilities. Each have one or two tiny rooms. They pay about $25/month for this luxury. While they keep their home pristine, the shared facilites are not enviable. Any space available near the bathroom block was obviously used to defecate. You could see the flies, not to mention the stench with the heat. Disease transmission...no wonder cholera and typhoid take hold.

A few of the women who will be receiving a water filter:

Beatrice, mother of 5. Her husband was shot in front of the family because of a dispute over a fishing permit.

Maureen, pregnant with her second child. She shares a house with 8 families who will all share the filtered water.

Judy, disabled and has difficulty collecting water.

Shared bathroom facilities

Many families will share the bathroom facilities

Open drains in Naivasha

Open drains carry sewage and waste water. Heavy rain overflows the drains taking the waste into the streets and into peoples homes via muddy shoes.

Children walking to school in Naivasha

Downpours of rain muddies the streets making it easy to spread diseases

Beatrice

Beatrice, single mother of 5

Maureen

Maureen, pregnant and sharing a house with 8 families

Judy

Judy is disabled and has difficulty collecting water.