Water is the most basic human necessity. It is the most vital
resource that affects a person’s health. At its finest, it can serve as a cure
for diseases. At its worst, it causes them. These qualities therefore entail
that water must be safe.
In
the Municipality of Siay, 191 cases of diarrhea were reported in 2012, of this,
129 cases came from Barangay Mirangan. Hence, diarrhea ranked 7th in
the top 10 leading causes of morbidity in Barangay Mirangan. One of the factors
attributed to this is the absence of safe water supply. During the initial
assessment the following reasons for the problem on lack of safe water supply
are the following:
1.
Utilization of open dug wells. Sixty-three percent (63%) of the
population utilize the unprotected open dug wells as a source for drinking
water. According to the guidelines set by the World Health Organization
“Healthy Villages”, unprotected dug wells are open to contamination and pose a
potential health risk. Hence, a criterion on the ”Characteristics of low-risk
water sources” which includes the following was formulated.
ü The
water source is fully enclosed or protected (capped) and no surface water can
run directly into it.
ü People
do not step into the water while collecting it.
ü Latrines
are located as far away as possible from the water source and preferably not on
higher ground. If there are community concerns about this, expert advice should
be sought.
ü Solid
waste pits, animal excreta and other pollution sources are located as far as
possible from the water source.
ü There
is no stagnant water within 5 meters of the water source.
ü If
wells are used, the collection buckets are kept clean and off the ground, or a
handpump is used.
2.
Decreased number of households
practicing water purification methods.
The survey done last 2011, revealed that out of 292 households, 62% practice
cloth filtration, 21% practice boiling and only 3% utilize chlorination.
3.
Less perceived priority project
for government. It was also noted last 2011, that there were
no existing legal support and barangay ordinances regarding a viable water
source.
In collaboration with identified key persons from
the community, the following proposed solutions were discussed in order to meet
the general objective of improving the water supply from “high risk” to
“low-risk” water sources based on the criteria set by the World Health
Organization (WHO).
To ensure that the water is safe,
either the water supply should be protected or the water should be treated
before use. Low-risk water supplies for drinking and other domestic uses can be
provided to communities in many ways. Often, unprotected water sources, such as
springs, traditional wells and ponds, can be improved and this may be
preferable to constructing completely new supplies (WHO-Healthy Villages,
2002).
This was the principle behind the
formulation of the strategies to provide safe water. The solutions addressing
the problem on lack of safe water supply were rooted in (3) three major
approaches namely: Governance, Education and Improvement of Water Sources.
Governance Approach
·
Assessment
of existing legal support: identification of ordinances
·
Initiation
of inter-sectoral linkages: collaboration with the barangay council, municipal
engineering’s office, municipal sanitary inspector, and NGO’s.
Education Approach
·
Increase
awareness on water-borne diseases and its health consequences: school based
teaching “Kalibanga Monster”, family development session (FDS) “Kuyaw ug Pwede Mamatay
sa Kalibanga”.
·
Increase
the number of households utilizing proper water purification practices:
promotion of Sodium Hypochlorite (HypoSol), Solar Disinfection (SoDis) Week at
Mirangan Elementary School, SoDis promotion during FDS, campaign on proper rain
water harvesting.
Improvement of water sources
·
Attainment
of additional funding for installation of pumps: assistance from NGO’s for
financial aid and procurement of pumps, collaboration with LGU for program of
works.
·
Improvement
of existing water: water analysis, signing of Memorandum of Agreement, “Poso
para sa Mirangan” installation of hand pumps.
Through
series of consultations and collaboration with the barangay council, Local
Government Unit and Non-government Organizations, several issues were
addressed; previous, existing and future plans for water development; prioritization
and scope of responsibilities for each sector were discussed. Formulation of
new project proposals which tackles the current status and need for a sustainable
water supply were addressed as well.
Meeting with the Municipal Engineer
Meeting with Municipal Sanitary Inspector
In
line with the Governance approach which fosters political will to help improve
water projects in the community, the barangay council initiated in providing
funding and priority on water supply projects in their annual budget. Creation
of the Mirangan Water Sanitation Association (MIRAWASA) with its legal basis
was realized to provide avenue to manage and govern the existence of a water
system that will ensure sustainability of water supply for its consumers in Barangay
Mirangan.
MIRAWASA Board of Trustees
People
empowerment was strengthened by increasing knowledge and influencing attitude;
this was the main focus of the Education approach. It was made through series
of Health Education Promotion in different setting and audiences respectively.
SODIS Water Disinfection Promotion Lecture
Hyposol Water Disinfection Promotion among households of Barangay Mirangan
Promotion
of different water purification methods: Solar Disinfection (SODIS),
Chlorination (HypoSol), Proper rainwater harvesting were introduced and
implemented through series of health teaching during Family Development
Sessions (FDS). These were attended by the majority of the residents especially
mothers. In line with increasing the awareness on the prevention of water-borne
disease, school based health teachings were also presented and adopted by the
students and faculty of Mirangan Elementary School. Hence, ensuring safe water
and eventually reducing the risk of diarrheal cases in the community. In addition, a sustainable supply of raw
material like PET bottles for SODIS and Hyposol (Chlorine Solution) was made
available in local stores situated in the barangay. In effect, these
interventions, yielded increase in the households practicing SoDis from 9 to 24
households, and those utilizing HypoSol from 9 to 54 households.
Households who is practicing Hyposol
Households practicing Solar Disinfection
Promotion of SODIS Week at Mirangan Elementary School
Improvement of water
sources through infrastructure development, proper assessment, field surveys
and planning also had a great impact in reaching its main objective of
developing water sources from “high-risk” to “low-risk” based on the WHO
Criteria.
Inter-sectoral linkages
were upheld to mobilize the community to its full potential. A joint effort between the different branches
of the local government and several NGO’s, delivered means to provide a program
of works amounting to PHP 50,000.00 worth of construction materials which paved
way for the installation of seven (7) handpumps during the 4th quarter of 2014 and 1st quarter of
2015. These pumps were installed in strategic locations that resulted to easy
access to safe and sustainable water supply for the majority of its population
that covers from 7.4% in 2012 to 89% in 2014.
Signing of the Memorandum of Agrrement on Water Projects of the Barangay Council and Local Stakeholders
Construction and Installation of Waterpumps in Purok 6B (Before and After)
Construction and Installation of Waterpumps in Purok 6A (Before and After)
Construction and Installation of Waterpumps in Purok 5 (Before and After)
Construction and Installation of Waterpumps in Purok 3B (Before and After)
Construction and Installation of Waterpumps in Purok 3A (Before and After)
Along with the
institution of the MIRAWASA and its assigned personnel; routine site
inspection, unit maintenance of handpumps, and warranting clean and safe water
through scheduled chlorination disinfection every 3 months was upheld in
Barangay Mirangan.
Given
all the results of the combined approach and effort by all sectors involved, it
is rational to conclude that the interventions engaged in the achievement of
the goal for this problem were all effective. The problem on lack of safe water
supply in barangay Mirangan has been addressed adequately through the full
involvement and passion of the community to make a Mauswagong Mirangan a
reality of today.
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