KATINE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS PROJECT - Guardian.co.uk

mentioned using the swamp as their second water source. Nine villages had the greatest
distance of 3-4 kilometres. This reality is not in line with the government recommended
walking distance of 1.5 kilometres to travel to collect water.
As part of the project intervention, 5 boreholes have been rehabilitated in Katine and Ajobi
villages in Katine parish, Adamasiko in Ojom parish, Merok in Merok parish and Olwelai in
Olwelai parish benefiting 225 households. 8 new boreholes were drilled in Obyarai A and
Omodoi in Ochuloi parish, Ominit and Matali in Ojom, Amorikot in Olwelai, Omulai in Katine
parish, Abata in Merok parish, and Abia in Ojama parish (benefiting 360 households). District
and sub-county consultative meetings were held where baseline data was shared and used to
prioritise areas of need. Community consultative meetings and advocacy took place where
decisions were made on the above sites for drilling the boreholes. This has increased safe
water coverage from 42% to 56%. In addition, water quality and water-borne disease
surveillance at 21 sites have been carried out. KCCP anticipates that this intervention will
reduce water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and typhoid which are common in the Katine
community.
The household baseline survey revealed that half of the surveyed households did not have a
latrine and instead used the bush or plastic bags which they disposed of in bushes near their
home. Seven out of ten households in Olwelai and six out of ten in Ochuloi did not have a
latrine. Of the households that did have a toilet facility, 42% had a pit latrine without a slab and
6% had a pit latrine with a slab. Latrine coverage was highest in Katine/Ojama (68%), followed
then by Merok (58%). In response to these findings, the project has provided 240 sanitation
kits to all 6 parishes in Katine sub-county and primary schools. These kits included wheel
barrows, pick axes, machetes, axes, hoes and spades for latrine excavation. A follow-up of
60 households that received a sanitation kit revealed that 33 had completed latrine digging
and had handed over these kits to the next villages.
The community survey also revealed that 3 villages unanimously reported they had a trained
water user committee and one village (Obiol) had hand pump mechanics. The KCPP was able
to facilitate three sub-county health committee meetings for the months of January, February
and March to discuss progress of water and sanitation component activities. The project also
established and trained 6 parish sanitation committees - one from each of the six parishes.
The KCPP established and trained three hand pump mechanics on operation and
maintenance of water sources to cover the six parishes and equipped them with protective
wear, tool kits and bicycles for transportation.
Monitoring of water usage informs us that, due to this intervention, the functionality of water
sources has increased from 70% to 95%. The result of this increase is an improvement in
community access to safe water for 1,500 people in Katine sub-county.
Improved Income Generation
Farming groups have been formed in 18 selected villages from six of the parishes. Each of
these groups has 30 self-selected members and includes both men and women with a guiding
criterion of 50% gender representation. The selection criteria require community members to
be actively engaged in farming and have a desire to improve production and marketing. The
KCPP six monthly narrative report - October 2007 to March 2008 18