LIBERIA: Rural Communities benefit from WASH Training
…As CODES Commences Project in Cape Mount – By: WASH R&E “Media” Network – As part of efforts to ensure that Liberians, especially rural dwellers have access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene, a local NGO constructing WASH facilities, has begun WASH training for rural communities.
Community Health Volunteers during the training
Eleven Communities in Grand Cape Mount county are benefiting from the Initiative through hand pump mechanic and WASH software training.
The project is undertaken by the Community Development Services (CODES), with support from WaterAid/Irish Aid WASH project in Cape Mount.
Speaking to WASH Reporters over the weekend in Sinje, Grand Cape Mount county, CODES Executive Director, Tamba Bundor said eleven communities have been trained in order to maintain WASH facilities given them.
Hand pump mechanic arranging parts of the pump
Mr. Bundor said he was impressed to see women fully participating in the training, especially receiving skills as hand pump mechanics.
He said it is not good to see WASH facilities constructed by NGOs in ruins because of the lack of knowledge to repair them, or due to simple damaged parts.
Mr. Bundor said the two new wells constructed and hand WASH facilities in two schools will help to serve as a full WASH package for the schools.
He hoped that with the training, community residents would take full ownership and that the issue of sustainability will be a priority.
Hand Pump mechanics practicing what they have learned during the training
The CODES Executive Director disclosed that the intervention of his organization in Cape Mount is to complete projects started by the Sustainable Livelihood Promoters Programme (SLPP), a local NGO in the county implementing WaterAid WASH projects.
Mr. Bundor also cautioned NGOs involved in the construction of hand pumps to always go by the policy of the Liberian government in constructing hand pumps in Liberia.
According to him, each community with the population of 250 residents should have access to a hand pump.
Mr. Bundor said most NGOs involved in the construction of hand pumps in Cape Mount are not taking into account the policy.
School Hand Washing facility
He called on NGOs to abide by the regulation put in place by the WASH sector of Liberia.
For their part, both beneficiaries of the hard and software training commended WaterAid through CODES for providing the training to enable them learn how to better sustain WASH facilities.
Also speaking, the Community Health volunteers assured CODES that they will ensure that residents in their communities keep their environment clean at all times.
The CHVs indicated that they will reinforce the Community Led Total Sanitation initiative to safe the community from diseases.
Also speaking to WASH R&E Media, individuals who participated in the hand pump mechanic training said they will ensure that residents will be informed on how to use the pumps.
They promised to mobilize the locals in contributing little funds through a cash box system to buy parts in case the pump has a break down.
