Tanzania’s Bahi District residents have a reason to smile. This is following the recent handing over of a water and sanitation project worth over $289,800. Plan International Tanzania handed over the project to the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Regional Administration and Local Government (RALG).
The project complements Usafi wa Mazingira Tanzania (Umata) program. Gift of Hope of Canada funded the program with a donation of $285,975. Local communities contributed $13,095.
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A total of only two water sources serving the village made the intervention necessary. One of the two is windmill operated and as a result unable to meet the needs of even the nearby households. A diesel pump operates the second one, but with very little water. Consequently, women and girls walked for long distances to fetch water from polluted and unprotected sources.
The situation in the village and schools gave rise to the project, which will benefit 9,502 people; 4,845 females and 4,657 males. Speaking during the handover ceremony, Mr. Nzunda of RALG spoke on the importance of clean water and decent toilets. He also thanked Plan International Tanzania for implementing the project.
Community impact
Mr Nzunda added that the availability of clean and safe water was still a major problem in the country. This is because about 23 million people countrywide find it difficult to get clean and safe water regularly. Mr. Nzunda asked Bahi residents to take care of the project to ensure that they benefit from it for many years.
The program had enabled 300,445 people in 71 villages to live in a clean environment. Ms. Nyanzobe said adding that 26 of the villages, or 33%, were in Bahi District.
66% of people in the program areas have built and are using improved toilets. 53% have installed and are using special containers for washing hands. In total 73% of households in Bahi District having the systems.
