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Coverage to water and sanitation in Ethiopia is Low .Only 61% of the population has access water safe water and 52% has access to sanitation facilities, .Apart from low coverage levels,water quality is a major problem ,as evidenced by frequent outbreaks of water related epidemics.The health problem in children under five are mainly attributed to unprotected water
and environmental sanitation.
Conscious of the problem related to water and sanitation in Ethiopia the RCAAW has been engaged in the in various projects.Following a report about the above mentioned village by one member the club decided to field two of its member to carry out a need assessment .The project is an outcome of over six missions to the village and is based on meetings with villagers,local administrators and provincial authorities.Technical expertise for the construction of the pond was done by the only NGO working in the vicinity. Asagirt village is located at about 128 km from Addis Ababa, it is part of the Amhara Regional Administration(Norther Showa).The population of the village is 3000 and is surrounded by 11 satellite settlements known as Kot.
According to the need assessment carried out by Rotarian's in close cooperation with the villagers and all other stakeholders the villagers live under grinding poverty deprived of basic social services .While Rotary Club of Addis Ababa West aims to consider the concerns of the villagers in an integrated manner, it was necessary to prioritize and focus on the acute problem related to water and sanitation and address the village socio-economic problem under a separate project in the second phase of adopting the village .
his village has limited access to safe water.There are two sources of water at present.One is unprotected water harvested from rain and the second one is from an protected spring at is at three four hours walk deep in a gaurge with difficult passage.The elderly and other vulnerable population are forced to buy water at ten birr per 10 liter .
While the spring water is adequate to supply the village and other villages in the vicinity the terrain is so difficult that the cost of developing it is prohibitive .Numerous attempts have been made to dig wells without success as an alternative solution to resolve the problems of the village without success. in conclusion all concerned parties agree that the only cost effective solution at this point for the population to have access to safe water is through a protected pond to harvest rain water .The area receive rain water twice a year.
The overall objective of the project is to improve the quality of life of the villagers through the provision safe water and to raise the awareness level of the community towards improved sanitation and hygienic practices.. Water born diseases and sanitation problems are of great concern in this village.
The specific project objectives include:
-Building a protected pond with the capacity of 3,700 cubic meter water and a distribution system in a central location.The area has been identified study completed, the design and the cost worked out by experts.
-Building one hundred individual family pit latrine and waist/refuse disposal.
-Building eight public latrine and shower for the Saturday market which is a meeting place for the villagers and others from the surrounding villages and merchants from as far back as Addis Ababa.
-To eliminate the practice of abduction of young girls forcing them into child marriage with all its physical,social,psychological and economic consequences.
-To eliminate the rape of women and girls during the long journey to fetch water .
Liberating girls to follow basic education.
-To give room to women to engage in other socio- economics activities to benefit themselves and their families.
-To improve the overall health situation of the population through health education.
-to reduce the prevalence of water born and sanitation related diseases.
The total cost of the project is 147,000.00 US dollars.
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