By VIOLET MENGO
WITH smile on his face, Austin Goma, 40, opens a tap at one of the newly constructed water kiosks in Mtendere East. The flow of water is a clear demonstration of the residents’ farewell to the challenges of water supply experienced for many years.
Goma’s joy and that of his community comes as a sense of fulfilment that they will no longer spend hours looking for water, nor will they have to depend on shallow wells anymore.
The provision of water to Mtendere East means reduction in water and sanitation related illnesses for our community, especially children, it is a dream come true,” he says.
Goma, a father of four, says his family has been among the most affected in the community as they did not have access to water supply. They would buy the commodity and also use shallow well water which was common practice in the area.
He says with the water kiosks, one is able to pay K100 per 20-litre container unlike in the past where one would pay K200 per container from individuals. Although he says it is manageable, some members of the community still feel it is expensive.
Apart from saving money, the community which is involved in informal type of work will have more time to be productive and also school-going children will no longer miss classes because they have to help their parents draw water.
For Mtendere East, having sustainable water supply is, in itself, a success story as the area has for many years not known what it means to have access to safe drinking water. For those that dug shallow wells, diarrheal diseases were common while those with individual connections overpriced their neighbours.
Water and sanitation related diseases used to be high coupled with high poverty levels. Among the common diseases that were prone to the area included dysentery, cholera and typhoid.
Mtendere East is one of the poorest settlements in Lusaka with a population of 78,000 which adds up to the 65 percent of people living in Lusaka’s peri-urban areas. 56 percent do not have access to acceptable quality water supply.
WITH smile on his face, Austin Goma, 40, opens a tap at one of the newly constructed water kiosks in Mtendere East. The flow of water is a clear demonstration of the residents’ farewell to the challenges of water supply experienced for many years.
Goma’s joy and that of his community comes as a sense of fulfilment that they will no longer spend hours looking for water, nor will they have to depend on shallow wells anymore.
The provision of water to Mtendere East means reduction in water and sanitation related illnesses for our community, especially children, it is a dream come true,” he says.
Goma, a father of four, says his family has been among the most affected in the community as they did not have access to water supply. They would buy the commodity and also use shallow well water which was common practice in the area.
He says with the water kiosks, one is able to pay K100 per 20-litre container unlike in the past where one would pay K200 per container from individuals. Although he says it is manageable, some members of the community still feel it is expensive.
Apart from saving money, the community which is involved in informal type of work will have more time to be productive and also school-going children will no longer miss classes because they have to help their parents draw water.
For Mtendere East, having sustainable water supply is, in itself, a success story as the area has for many years not known what it means to have access to safe drinking water. For those that dug shallow wells, diarrheal diseases were common while those with individual connections overpriced their neighbours.
Water and sanitation related diseases used to be high coupled with high poverty levels. Among the common diseases that were prone to the area included dysentery, cholera and typhoid.
Mtendere East is one of the poorest settlements in Lusaka with a population of 78,000 which adds up to the 65 percent of people living in Lusaka’s peri-urban areas. 56 percent do not have access to acceptable quality water supply.
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