Tuesday, January 19, 2010

A little bit of this and a little bit of that


Hello all!
I am pressed for time, so I plan on elaborating on the Public Health portion of the assessment trip once I return to the states, but I wanted to leave y'all with some photos from our time in Uganda. While our visit was short, we accomplished a lot. We look forward to sharing our findings and experiences upon our return. We have a busy semester ahead of us so be prepared. Thank you for reading and see you soon.


Sarah and Alex (a student at Hope) at the Kyawagonya Market.


Sarah and I going out into the surrounding communities to collect GPS points, assess available water sources and conduct household assessments.


Our meeting with local potters to discuss the construction of clay pots and clay cookstoves. When we return in June we hope to work with these women to design modified clay pots to be used as water storage vessels. When we met with the chairwoman of Gankanga we were informed that most individuals within the community store their drinking water in uncovered clay pots. The clay pots that are currently used lack lids and have a large opening on top for water retrieval, which often leads to the recontamination of the drinking water. By adding a tight fitting lid and a faucet to the bottom of the clay pot, the treated water will remain contaminant free and safe for consumption. While it is important to treat water prior to consumption, it is equally important to promote safe water storage to prevent recontamination.
The chairwoman and head of the women's group of Kyawagonya outside of her home. Of the 300 households in Kyawagonya, 7 own a rainwater collection system. There are approximately 700 individuals within the community. While there is a borewell nearby, it has been broken for 8 years, so many members in the community collect water from a swamp or pond. During our focus group discussion, the community listed medical services, water quantity/quality and finances as three major health concerns within the community.
Eric and Moreen testing water quality from local water sources.
Eric, Adam and Steve investigating a broken tap on a rainwater harvesting system in Gankanga. The taps installed were cheap and low quality which caused them to stay permanently open. As a result, the water continually leaked out.
EWB members and URF volunteers in front of Hope with our special friend Alan (the cow).
One of the markets in downtown Kampala.
Children posing for photos near one of the two borewells in Kyetume.
Children in Kyetume collecting water from a borewell.
Speaking with the women's group about the importance of safe water storage and water treatment methods.

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