Rotary District project to provide Kisii District Hospital with a continuous supply of clean running water.

2007-09-15

2008-11-07

22000

65000

2000

Maintenance funds will be derived from the savings generated by not using the municipal water system and water vendors. The District Water Engineer, who will supervise the project, will assist in training hospital maintenance personnel and do scheduled maintenance inspections.

2500

This number reflects the hospital staff and nursing school. The patient figures vary but will average about 600-800 daily. In addition, community members have access to a protected spring facility with excellent water quality. That portion of the project is completed and being extensively used throughout the day. Water is pumped to the hospital during the night. It is being routed to the laundry, kitchen, operating area, the "amenities ward" and will be available to the new 150 bed addition when it opens in the fall.

0

The hospital has a large pediatric and maternity component and a children's ward for infectious diseases (malaria, TB and AIDS). These facilities will be provided with a continuous source of clean water when the project is completed.

2000

Hospital staff and patients must use outdoor pit latrines because of lack of water to operate newly renovated indoor facilities. However, problems were encountered with leaks in the plumbing within many of the wards. Interior plumbing is the responsibility of the Health Ministry and was not part of the project. Until the plumbing is renovated, the hospital will not reap the full benefits of the project.

1500

In addition to providing water to the hospital, the project has provided taps for the community to use and a place for washing clothes. Many women are using the protected spring area for washing clothes rather than the nearby and heavily polluted river. The protected spring is now a social meeting place. Small business stands selling fruit, vegetables and other products have sprung up and we observed one enterprising woman opening a hair washing and styling business at the spring site.

Completion of the project has been delayed awaiting the local power company to extend three phase power to the pumping station and construction of a security fence. In the meantime, a back up diesel generator is providing the power to pump water to the hospital. The project will be completed by late summer or early fall and the completion ceremony is scheduled for October or November. Blue Planet Run will be prominently displayed as a partner with Rotary on a large plaque at the entrance of the hospital and a second plaque at the community access area by the pumping station.. There will be widespread publicity throughout the area and in Kenya's national news and television about the project and the role Blue Planet Run has played. The participation of a Kenyan in the Blue Planet Run will also be featured. The project is led by the Rotary Clubs of Conifer, Colorado and Hurlingham-Nairobi . Rotarians Carol Carper, Don Howard and his wife, Pat, visited the project in June,2007 and documented existing conditions through video, pictures and interviews. A follow up visit was conducted in June, 2008 to document progress. The Hurrlingham Rotary Club is disbursing funds, monitoring results, maintaining records and solving problems. Don Howard, his wife, Pat, Dr. Mogoa, Hospital Superintendent, political and civic dignitaries and a crowd of 300 gathered for the ground breaking ceremony.

The schedule established for beginning the project was delayed because of the great number of water and other humanitarian projects processed by Rotary International Foundation at this time of year. It was further complicated by some missing details in the instructions for transferring funds. All funds were received, the community dug the trench to take the pipeline to the hospital, all materials were ordered and delivered expeditiously, and the progress has been satisfactory except for a long delay in the delivery of three-phase power. All parties worked together harmoniously and care was taken to install quality materials with an eye toward sustainability. The Host country sponsor, the Hurlingham Rotary Club, is located in Nairobi, a six hour journey to Kisii. Coordination and supervision was difficult because of the distance involved. Attempts are being made to establish a Rotary Club in Kisii so that sustainability can easily be monitored.