International Organization for Migration (IOM) Water Facilities Help Resettled Communities Fight COVID-19 in Sierra Leone
The water facilities were constructed through the project “Strengthening
Disaster Preparedness, Response and Community Resilience in Sierra
Leone”
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, July 11, 2020/ -- Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing remains among the most
difficult preventive measures for millions of Sierra Leoneans to follow. In fact, access to clean water is still a challenge for many crowded
urban settlements across Sierra Leone, a small country in West Africa
where an estimated 2.9 million people live without clean and potable water.
So, how do you wash your hands if you cannot access water?
Despite the COVID-19 outbreak in a country still traumatized by some 4,000 deaths caused by the Ebola virus, flood survivors living in camps often forsake lockdown measures as they search for clean water for their
households.
To support these disaster-affected communities, the International
Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Sierra
Leone’s Office of National Security (ONS), has constructed water
facilities with the use of Poly Glu, a Japanese water purification system.
The water plants were installed in five communities, including the
resettled community of Mile Six camp in Koya Chiefdom, which is located
about 50 kilometers from the outskirts of Freetown. These solar-powered
water facilities – which were installed by IOM – now are providing
purified water to more than 1,000 residents. They are now also helping
the resettled community and its environs defeat COVID-19.
“When we came to Mile Six after the devastating floods in Freetown in
2015, we experienced many challenges here, including access to clean
drinking water,” said Emma Conteh, a resident of the displaced
community.
The community used to fetch water from unsafe sources, which include
swamps and unprotected ditches located some kilometers away from the
camp. Thanks to the installation of a water facility and a purification
system, community members now have enough water to drink and use for
other purposes including handwashing for COVID-19 prevention.
“Getting clean water at Mile Six is as natural as breathing fresh air.
And for a very long time now I have not seen cases of people, especially children affected by cholera and diarrhea, because of the availability
of safe drinking water in the camp,” Emma Conteh explained.
According to Jeneba Kargbo, chair of the displaced families at Mile Six, the camp and host community are yet to register a single case of
COVID-19. They continue to observe preventive measures and follow
regulations of the public health emergency procedures urged by the
Government.
“Since COVID-19 came to the country, we have been encouraging people at
the camp to effectively use water collected from the solar-powered taps
to wash their hands, and practice other safe hygiene measures to protect themselves from the virus,” Kargbo added. “We will continue our usual
hygiene practices and encourage more people to follow the COVID-19
preventive measures, specifically to practice proper handwashing.”
She said that to make this happen, they need to distribute more hygiene
kits like soap and inform every household about COVID-19 preventive
guidelines.
As of 7 July, Sierra Leone has registered 1,572 COVID-19 cases and 63
deaths. IOM Sierra Leone continues to work closely with the Emergency
Operation Centre to deliver risk communication and social mobilization
in crowded or informal settlements and border communities.
The water facilities were constructed through the project “Strengthening Disaster Preparedness, Response and Community Resilience in Sierra Leone” funded by the Government of Japan.
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Water Facilities Help Resettled Communities Fight COVID-19 in Sierra Leone
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Water Facilities Help Resettled Communities Fight COVID-19 in Sierra Leone
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Water Facilities Help Resettled Communities Fight COVID-19 in Sierra Leone
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Water Facilities Help Resettled Communities Fight COVID-19 in Sierra Leone
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Water Facilities Help Resettled Communities Fight COVID-19 in Sierra Leone
Play online games for free at games.easybranches.com
Guest Post Services www.easybranches.com/contribute