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To provide drinking water to 300 homes and 8
rural schools (1,200 people) in the El Encano
district, through the supply of Eco filters and providing training in their care, maintenance, basic sanitation, hygiene habits and practices to the community, with the purpose of reducing to a minimum the diarrheal diseases caused by contaminated water, contributing to the improvement of the quality of life and public health of the vulnerable population, including children and the elderly.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The basic idea for the development of this
project was born as a joint effort between the members of the Pasto Ciudad Sorpresa Rotary Club and the inhabitants of El Encano, among whom are educators from the different districts, presidents of the community action boards, boards of directors of the local aqueducts and the community in general.
The aim of this project is to provide a water
purification system through clay filters to 300 homes and 8 rural schools. In addition, various training sessions will be held on the use and maintenance of these systems.
The project will focus on the conservation of
natural resources, responsible environmental
practices, and health and hygiene.
The project will focus on the rural area of the Department of Nariño, Municipality of Pasto, El Encano district, Santa Lucia, Santa Isabel, El Naranjal, Ramos and Santa Teresita villages.
These villages correspond to ancestral territories that surround the Laguna de la Cocha. The area to be intervened has a past in which the war left deep scars when armed groups in a ruthless context took over the region, consequently, its inhabitants have faced conditions of vulnerabilidad such as violence, poverty and state abandonment.
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT NEEDS YOU
IDENTIFIED? HOW WILL THE PROJECT MEET
THESE NEEDS? WHO WILL BENEFICIARY OF
THIS PROJECT? MENTION AN ESTIMATED
NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES.
The El Encano district does not have a drinking water and basic sanitation system. It only has water systems that are taken from springs or rural aqueducts through uncovered hoses and without treatment, being contaminated by faecal matter and organic waste, causing illnesses in the population. This region is isolated and difficult to access since the only route of entry is by river navigation, making use of rudimentary boats, for hours of travel, which makes it even more difficult to access health services and basic sanitation.
A microbiological study of the water sources
shows that they are not suitable for consumption because they are contaminated, according to reports, with faecal matter due to the presence of E.coli and coliforms. According to the levels accepted for water analysis, these samples are considered to be at high risk of gastrointestinal infection, which increases the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with gastrointestinal
infections, malnutrition, severe infection and death.
With the installation of the filters, homes and rural schools will have access to drinking water for daily consumption. The population's skills will be strengthened both in the proper use of the filters and in improving hygiene habits. This will benefit more than 1,200 people.
SUSTAINABILITY:The project will continue to operate with preventive maintenance that does not require qualified labor, only through adequate training of the beneficiary population. Likewise, the club will provide support to verify and complement the instructions and the benefit of use.
IS THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED? DESCRIBE
THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN
THE IMPLEMENTATION AND CONTINUITY OF
THE PROJECT?
The community of the villages surrounding the
Cocha lagoon are the main actors in this project, since the initial idea arose in dialogues with the community. In addition, the representatives of the different villages are the ones who collect information and compile each of the databases on the population living in each village. In
addition, the community has stated that it is
aware of and committed to the implementation
and maintenance of the drinking water system
and attendance at the different training sessions that will be held in each village.
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