Donor: Alexandra and Spencer Wells

Kitanyata village is located 21 km North West of Masindi town along the same road leading to Nyakarongo, a Busoga Trust project community in the far North West corner of Pakanyi Sub County. Divided into three zones, Kitanyata is a sprawling village encompassing hundreds of households. Like many others in the district, most Kitanyata inhabitants survive through subsistence farming of maize, ground nuts and beans.

Despite its size, Kitanyata lacks reliable sources of clean water. There are just two protected water sources in the village; at present one is dysfunctional and the other is located within the grounds of Kitanyata Health Centre and is used exclusively for clinic operations and patients. Most Kitanyata residence rely on water from three unprotected sources around the village. One such source is located behind Kitanyata Primary School (photo below). This is the primary water source to the school and its 1087 pupils as well as for some nearby community members.

Busoga Trust America’s first priority in Kitanyata is to build a well that will serve the Primary School and surrounding households. After the community assembled its contribution of materials for the well the Busoga Trust well technicians started work in September. The work was completed in a few weeks time; the well was capped and became operational on September 27, 2008.

Water Quality Data Before and After Busoga Trust Intervention

Fecal Coliforms (E. coli) per 100 ML

Old Source: 45

BTA Well: 14

Percent Change: -69%

E. coli is a fecal bacteria which causes diarrhea, violent stomach cramps, and fever. It can be transmitted through contaminated food or water. US EPA water standardsrequire Ecoli and similar bacteria be completely absent from 95% of the water samples taken from a system.

Turbidity/NTU

Old Source: 50

BTA Well: 0

Percent Change: -100%

Turbidity is a measure of water clarity; it is an indicator of how much solid mass (silt, sand, clay, algae) and potentially disease-causing organisms a water source contains. Turbidity is measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units.  In the United States, the allowable standard is 1 NTU; Uganda strives for a turbidity level of less than 15 NTU.

Baseline Survey Data Before and After Busoga Trust Intervention

Providing clean water only goes so far to prevent disease from affecting rural communities.  Proper hygiene and sanitation practices in combination with clean water are essential to improving health. That is why, when Busoga Trust installs a water source in a village, we conduct health sensitizations focusing on changing the behavior and practices employed by the community. Baseline surveys are carried out by Busoga Trust staff preceding and following our interventions to assess impact. Listed are the statistics from Kitanyata Village.

Open Defecation:  When open defecation is practiced in communities, it poses a tremendous threat to good health. Fecal matter is the primary mode of disease transmission and can also easily infect open water sources. The reduction of open defecation in a community is critical to improve sanitation and hygiene levels.

Pre-Intervention: 45 %

Post-Intervention: 18%

Percent Change: -60%

Partial Pit Latrine: The use of a pit latrine is significantly improved location for defecation. Waste is contained in underground pits, preventing it from contaminating public areas.  A partial pit latrine has an incomplete outer structure which is not ideal, but it is a vast improvement on open defecation.

Pre-Intervention: 55%

Post-Intervention: 52%

Percent Change: -5.45%

Complete Pit Latrine- A complete pit latrine is an underground pit for waste storage with walls and a roof for privacy. This is also important for vector control; a complete outer structure helps prevent insects and rodents from getting into the latrine and spreading disease.

Pre-Intervention: 27%

Post-Intervention: 30%

Percent Change: 11.11%

Bath Shelter-  Bath shelters are important for privacy, but they are also vital to the control of mosquitoes, as stagnant water left on the ground creates an environment where these vectors can thrive. A bath shelter with a soak pit helps to eliminate this problem.

Pre-Intervention: 29%

Post-Intervention: 52%

Percent Change: 79.31%

Rubbish Pit- The construction of rubbish pits are important for controlling flies and keeping bacteria off of the ground in the village compound. It is also important that the pit is surrounded by a fence so that children cannot fall in.

Pre-Intervention: 16%

Post-Intervention: 43%

Percent Change: 168.75%

Kitchen- In order to keep smoke out of the home, Busoga Trust encourages people in the village to use a different structure for cooking. This helps to eliminate respiratory and eye problems, particularly in women.

Pre-Intervention: 72%

Post-Intervention: 90%

Percent Change: 25%