Summary

This project involves constructing 10 VIP latrines, drilling one borehole for drinking water at Chilukwa Primary School and constructing five latrines and a bathing area for patients at the Engucwini Health Center in Malawi.

Background

Chilukwa Primary School Water and Sanitation Component
One of the schools in the Engucwini area is the Chilukwa Primary School. It was established in 1984 by the Malawian Government. Although the Government provided funds for the infrastructure (school buildings, supplies and some equipment), it did not provide a source of water or sanitation facilities for the schoolchildren. Over 400 girls and boys attend the school and have to use the open field for their “toilet”. In terms of drinking water, they go without or bring small containers of water (oftentimes unfit to drink) from their shallow wells located at home. The rate of water and fecal-related disease is high in the school. Children miss several days of school a month due to illness.

Engucwini Health Center Latrine and Shower Construction Component
The Engucwini Health Center was built in 1984 by the Malawian Government. Although the Government provided the infrastructure, it did not provide a clean water source, a sanitation system or a location where patients and health professionals could clean themselves. One lone health worker has staffed the Center for the past 20 years having only a small supply of medication to dispense each month. There are no toilet or shower facilities, no beds for patients and no medical supplies. The health worker has struggled to provide good quality and hygienic services to his patients over the years.

In 2002, WFP drilled a well for the Center. It was the first time the Center had a clean source of drinking and bathing water for its patients. WFP has visited the health Center several times since project completion and the program has been well operated and maintained. The water system has been an incredible help to the Center and the community and has helped to increase cleanliness and sanitary conditions in the Center. However, there is still no proper area to dispose of human waste at the Center. The health worker has built a makeshift “toilet” that has to be used by patients in the Center. It is unfit for public use and only increases the nonsocomial (disease obtained from health centers) infections in the Center.

Location

Attachments

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