Community members from greater Nyadri subcounty in maracha district have lauded " SAVE THE MARACHA GIRL "a local community based organization for succefully implementing Right2grow, Water ,sanitation and hygiene project activities in their area.
They voiced their appeal for an extension of the programs during follow up of the project's impact by this online publication. Beneficiaries of the project acknowledge having benefited richly from community empowerment aspect of programs during 5 years implementation .
Through Advocacy for community needs in sector of water and sanitation ,the efforts of the CBO has visibly beared fruits by interventions of local government in providing new clean water sources to community that had periovosy faced acute water scarcity as well strengthening sanitation and household hygiene.
Clean water scarcity at Nyadri livestock market located along arua-koboko highway in worgobo village pabura parish was public outcry and common song every trader would sing in this busy livestock market that attracts traders from within and as far as neighboring Dr Congo and South Sudan.
However, through public dialogues and advocacy, the local council of Nyadri subcounty picked the matter up and connected tap water at the facility hence minimizing clean water shortage.
Mr luji ombata the area lc1 one chairperson is most grateful about the intervention saying drinking contaminated water at the livestock market is no more.
"When the tenderer of this livestock market assumed duty he started pushing the subcounty officials to connect tap water because the traders were complaining bitterly but later the water challenges were minimized, we sale 20 litre Jerrican at 200 shillings which has enabled us clear water bills on time while ensuring constant availability of clean water." Luji stated.
Mrs Iren Abakuru, a vendor in food items at the livestock could not hid here joy over connected tap while explaining that moving far distances looking after clean water for her customers has been shortened.
She said provision and availability of clean water has improved on handwashing at livestock.
Ambidro B village ,under Baria parish was amongst villages hit hard by water crisis before 2023
The population in the village and neighborhood solemnly relied on incapacitated KALIA protected spring water source which was constructed wayback 1995.
Through Advocacy ,the district came to their intervention by providing a borehole water source which has greatly reduced congestion at kalia spring water source and improved access to clean water source for disadvantaged village.
By the time this publication visited the borehole, Mrs Hellas opiru confirmed that previously they used to treck long distance searching for clean water sources which would be very difficult especially during dry season saying God has answered their suffering through maracha district local government and SAVE THE MARACHA GIRL.
She said,"We used to que at kalia protected spring waiting for water which at times would consume the whole day stopping us from performing other duties at home but when this borehole was drilled we can't take more than 10 minutes at water point".
The community members have since established active water user committee to ensure proper management of the borehole and it's sustainability.
Mr Isaac detibo whom the community entrusted with the borehole keys said , community welcomed the water source by establishing perimeter fencing, frequently participating in communially cleanliness at the water point.
"Fighting at water point has ended in this village, we now jealously guide the water source from children playing with borehole and making sure the surroundings are everytime kept clean".
In the sector of Rigt 2grow,Mrs Jesca aziko a resident of Nyaria olika village said a number of public dialogues conducted by the CBO at parishes level has helped educate the population on balanced diet for healthy growth henceforth greatly reducing on cases of malnutrition which she said was common amongst children bellow 5 years of age.
She explained that," Eversince the program came into our place ,we are no longer living in darkness as far as our knowledge about balanced died is concerned. We used to stay hungry throughout the day but these days we grow variety of food crops that has enabled us have three meals In a day".
She further said," Kwashaquo cases which used to be rampant amongst children is hardly seen after inception of this project.
Mr abiriga Erick, the village health team coordinator for Nyadri subcounty acknowledged the relevance and foot marks of the project in the area.
"It's true the coming in of Right 2grow project has caused numerous transformation in both clean water and food security,people used to live in ignorance especially in protection of clean but dialogues where women , men and children were involved,they learned much about safety measures of ensuring clean water and containers.
Abriga said, it was initially a common phenomenon that one who would go fetching plucks and puts cassava leaves in water while carrying home hence condamiting the clean water but emphasize during dialogues has ended the habits.
He stated that previously Lujenyori and ambidro A villages registered higher cases of malnutrition amongst children but Right2grow has completely eliminated the cases.
According to Erick,the program also changed mindset of many especially in digging pit latrine and hygiene at house hold level in the entire parish.
Abriga confirmed to this publication reduced cases of diahoria related to eating and drinking of unsafe food and water.
"People used to spent lots of money treating their children who would complain of stomach pains but the has reduced considerably amongst the community ,it now take a child three to four months visiting health facilities to get treatment for other diseases" abiriga narrated.
He appeals for extention of the programs arguing that if given more time slowly picking up community would embrace and change more attitudes adding phasing out of the project in may will leave the comumty hanging in balance.
While presenting activity report of project during subcounty budget conference, the executive director of SAVE THE MARACAHA GIRL, Mr John odabo remained appreciative to subcounty and district local government for giving them space and fulfilling some of the comunity needs.
We wish to thank the technical and political leadership of Nyadri Sub-County, Maracha District and other duty bearers for giving us an opportunity to share Citizens’ concerns on service delivery in this Budget Conference.We also recognize the good interventions by government such as: extension of piped water from Ovujo Town Council to Baria Primary School and newly established Ayii Livestock Market in Worogbo Village, Pabura Parish; construction of new pit latrines in Midria and Nyoro Primary Schools as well as in 4 markets (Ayi Livestock Market, Cakucakua Market, Koyi Market and Agi Market); installation of silver water reservoirs and hand washing facilities in all public primary Schools in the sub county;; presidential skilling initiative in which 12 youth have benefited; construction of new borehole at Ambidro B Village, Baria parish among others.We also recognise good practices of functional Health Unit Management Comittee at Nyadri Health Centre III, functional governance structures such as School Management Committees (SMCs) and Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) in all public primary schools, routine monitoring of schools by the district and capacity building of 1 Health Worker in Nyadri Health Centre III to support nutrition related issues.
With support from The hunger project Uganda, we conducted monitoring of institutional WASH situation in Primary Schools of Maracha, Nyoro, Baria, Koyi and Midria; as well as Community WASH Situation in Pabura, Baria, Robu parishes. As such, today we have the pleasure to present to you the state of service delivery Nyadri Sub county, highlighting service delivery concerns got during our community dialogues/sensitisations, community consultations as well monitoring of the schools and proposed interventions.
Mr John also highlighted some of the notable challenges in the implementation of WASH while offering solutions
There are Inactive Water User Committees in all available water sources in Nyadri Sub County because of no training, while some of the Water User Committees are incomplete (less than the required 9 members).
There is some observed lack of transparency and accountability in handling money contributed by the community at some water sources.
There is also reported lack of motivation and incentives for Water user committee members, coupled with poor attitude of community towards co-financing maintenance of the water sources.
Limited leadership skills and experience of Water User Committees in mobilizing community is also another concern leading to this issue.RecommendationsWe recommendFormation and training of complete Water user committees at all safe water sources,continuous community sensitization on safe and clean water practices, roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders as well as detailed feedback and accountability by Water User committees to gain community trust and confidence.
He observeed that, Inadequate clean water sources in Nyadri Sub County Pajama and Obiyo villages in Pabura parish as well as Ambidro A, Ombavu Village, Randra villages in Baria Parish do not have any clean water source. Olika Village, Miridri Parish, relies on water from River Olufe for domestic use.
Boreholes in the following villages have broken down: Nyoro Loinya Village - Pabura Parish; Nyaria Olika Village - Baria Parish, Randra and Yiba Villages - Robu ParishSimilarly, shallow wells in Oleko A and Lamila Villages in Pabura Parish and Luje Nyori Village, Baria Parish are damaged. 2 Spring Water sources in Piago Village and 1 in Lamila Village are not in good condition to provide safe water.
He recommended for establishment of cost friendly public water kiosks within the piped water coverage,repair of broken boreholes in Nyoro Loinya, Nyaria Olika, Randra Village and Yiba Villages rehabilitation of spring water sources in Piago and Lamila Villages as well as shallow wells in Oleko A, Lamila and Nyori villages construction of new boreholes in villages without clean water source.
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