SHI Clean Water Program celebrates World Water Day
World Water Day at Nicaragua Training Center
Self-Help’s Clean Water Program led the CAPS in the rural communities in the celebration of the World Water Day on March 22, 2015 by promoting experience exchanges among communities currently using the CTI-8 technology and communities seeking to learn more. Self-Help hosted two grand celebrations in honor of World Water Day with the CAPS from Nueva Guinea and Rio San Juan.
Nueva Guinea, March 24, 2015
World Water Day was met with great success in Nueva Guinea, RAAS, Nicaragua where we had the participation of 30 Community Clean Water Committee (CAPS) members, 71 people from different communities, local authorities including Mr. Francisco Miranda Villachica from the Mayor’s office (UMAS) and Dr. Fernando Canales Alemán from the Environmental Department, the Director of the Ministry of Health (SILAIS-MINSA) from Zelaya Central, and Mrs. Nicolasa Jarquín from Epidemiology from MINSA, TV and radio journalists, as well as Mr. Sergio Romero Alvarado, the CTI Nicaragua Country Director as well as Self-Help’s Country Director Mr. Jorge Campos Solís and Program Officer Orlando Montiel Salas.
World Water Day in Nueva Guinea
We shared with people an educational video regarding the CTI maintenance, good use of the purified water, and the positive impact the CTI-8 Chlorinator is having in the communities already installed, as well as the challenges the organization and CAPS area are facing with regard to clean water all over Nicaragua. Among the topic discussed were: Importance of the Potable water, weather changes, Sanitation and Environment Health, microbiology and treatment of the water for human use, emphasizing on the use of CTI-8 chlorinator in the rural gravity aqueduct. Most of the CAPS members agreed that installing the CTI-8 Chlorinator would benefit their communities, and 10 of them immediately asked for an initial visit by the Self-Help Program Officer for Clean Water to explore the possibilities for installation starting as soon as in April 2015.
It is a great challenge for Self-Help to serve all of this southeastern side of the country, since it is over 200 kms distance from the main office at Quinta Lidia, and requires travel over unpaved dirt roads that are in bad shape. Nevertheless, our goal is to serve all the rural areas where the need for clean, safe drinkable water is great, for the good of the rural people who we know will be grateful to have such a beneficial opportunity.
World Water Day, Day 2, hosted at Self-Help’s Fred Strohbehn Training Center in Quinta Lidia, March 26, 2015
During this gathering, in attendance were 10 CAPS and 17 participants from the communities of El Castillo, San Carlos and Morrito, a technician from San Carlos Mayor office (UMAS) Mr. Uriel Camacho Obando, Mr. Francisco Ochomogo Pilarte from ENACAL (water company) from Río San Juan, Dr. Flavio Rodríguez from Epidemiology MINSA and technician from Fundación del Río (River Foundation) and ASODELCO which are NGO’s that works in benefits of the water. During this event, we also had the participation of Mr. Sergio Romero Alvarado Nicaragua Country Director from partner organization CTI, who spoke on the topic of Environmental Health and Sanitation, as well as the history of CTI-8 water chlorinator. Self-Help’s Country Director Mr. Jorge Campos Solís shared how important is to have organized the CAPS in Río San Juan, and the Program Officer Mr. Orlando Montiel Salas shared how to manage the water treatment with the CTI-8 technology.
At the end of the two days of World Water Day conferences, we felt satisfied to know that more people from both Rio San Juan and Nueva Guinea had the opportunity to learn more about the new CTI-8 technology, and are welcoming the Program Officer for Clean Water, to study the area, help the communities determine the need for potable water, and assist with installation of the chlorinator for their communities benefit. As expected, April proved to be a busy month as most of the CAPS from Nueva Guinea requested to learn more about the CTI-8 prior to the installation.
In March we also installed one CTI-8 chlorinator at Empalme Los Sánchez, San Miguelito – Rio San Juan.
CTI installation in El Empalme Los Sanchez
In this community, the water fills the tank by gravity. The community used to have problem with accessing good quality water, and they used to rely on just one well which didn’t provide either enough water or the appropriate hygienic conditions for the people to drink. The women had to walk long distance to bring water for their families’ member to drink, wash dishes and do laundry. So the San Miguelito Mayor’s office installed a new water tank with a CTI-8 chlorination system.
Now, people are really thankful because they are getting potable water and most important clean water by using the CTI-8 Chlorinator, ensuring the water is safe for human consumption. This new installation is benefitting over 200people, including 35 families in 30 homes, and preventing waterborne diseases and parasites. Please below see the photos of the installation of the chlorinator as well as the chart on detail with the system and it benefit.
Your donation has made it possible for Self-Help to educate rural villages on the benefits of clean water and help them to provide water that is safe for human consumption. Thank you for your support!
