Mozambique: providing clean water to curb Bilharzia

This situation in Mozambique has pushed Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) to urgently seek sustainable solutions to the parasitic infection, aiming to provide clean safe water to communities. 

The solution

After consulting with the community, the team has installed six covered wells built of sturdy concrete and equipped with efficient hand pump systems. The pumps have been designed to work in a changing environment, ensuring reliable access to safe drinking water year-round. 

Castro Pereira, MSF water and sanitation technician, has been leading on the project which is now supporting approximately 350 households. 

Development down the road

The new systems require minimal maintenance and are simple to operate, making the wells accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Rabia Chico, a mother of two children who lives in the Muepane community in Mogovolas, is enthusiastic.

Now that they don’t have to walk long distances to collect water, Rabia and other community members have much more time to engage in income-generating activities such as farming, the most common livelihood in Mogovolas.  

Working with community leaders

MSF is working in close partnership with community leaders and the health authorities on the project. The Community Water Committee plays a critical role - comprised of dedicated local community members like Fatima Aluano, who have undergone specialised training in safe hygiene practices and well maintenance to address potential malfunctions.

Aluano explains, "I've been fortunate to receive training that empowers me to collaborate effectively with my community to ensure these local water sources are accessible in the long-term. Through this training, I've been able to mobilize my people to actively participate in initiatives aimed at maintaining the wells."

The owner: the community 

The committee serves as the custodian of the wells.  Their responsibilities include mobilizing the community to participate in activities such as regular cleaning of the wells, organizing the queue to fetch water, and conducting routine inspections to identify any potential problems.

Additionally, the committee serves as a liaison between the community and MSF, identifying  resources and support to maintain the functionality of the wells. By fostering a sense of ownership and collective responsibility, the Community Water Committee safeguard these essential water sources for their longevity and continued benefit to everyone.

"Before the wells were built, our only option was to rely on river water to meet our basic needs. This often meant exposing ourselves to contaminated water sources, leading to numerous health concerns for our community. However, with the construction of protected wells, we now have access to clean and safe water right within our village. It is peace of mind to feel secured." Aluano concluded.

Water, climate, and health are interconnected. The Mogovolas well-building project shows how taking an integrated approach can allow all three issues to be addressed. 

"I'm incredibly thankful for the gift of this well because we've never had access to anything like it before,” says Rabia Chico. “Previously, we endured long and dangerous routes to collect water, which is more or less the same as we did when in need to reach a hospital. Now, these essential resources are right on our doorstep. The illnesses that once infected us are gradually disappearing because we now have access to clean and safe water. This has made a difference, especially for our children, who used to suffer greatly from waterborne diseases. The days of hardship are finally behind us.”