KATINE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS PROJECT - Guardian.co.uk

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4.5.5 Communities empowered to engage in local governance � Established a community structures inventory that reflects different local structures that are used by different components. Some structures such as Village Health Teams and sub-county technical planning committee are shared among health, water and education. This is expected to result into effective coordination and networking among various community groups and hence ensuring sustainability of the project. � Developed key messages on health, education and water through focus groups at village level and IEC working groups at sub-county and district level reflecting all components. 4.6 Case studies Drilling of Omulai borehole: A life time dream come true for Akwango Lucy Born in 1960, Akwango Lucy was married and lived in Omulai Village, Katine Parish in Katine sub-county for 30 years. For the last 29 years she has been collecting water for drinking, cooking, bathing and all domestic chores from Omulai swamp which had an open well, about two kilometres from her home. Lucy says “…that whenever it rained flood water would fill the open well in the swamp.” Because of this, in 2000 the district local government constructed a shallow well in the area, but insects (worms) are seen regularly coming out of the well. Many users complained about worms which led to frequent diarrhoea and stomach pain and diseases like bilharzias whose presence in both children and adults was revealed through medical examination. Lucy cites one woman, a mother of seven children whom she said “developed a swollen stomach in 2007 as a result of worms. She was examined and is required to get treatment in Soroti town but for one year now she has failed to get funds for medical treatment.” Lucy says, “Cases of this nature are common in the village given the long history of drinking dirty water.” According to Lucy, in 1990 an old man died in the village. His death was caused by drinking unclean water. “In 2004 a child named Eboku died as a result of drinking insects from the shallow well,” Lucy says. KCPP six monthly narrative report - October 2007 to March 2008 26
Lucy is a mother of nine children raised under these conditions. Her second born Opio Richard is 27 years old Together with other village members Opio Richard became the voice of the community. They initiated a request when they learnt about AMREF support to Katine community last year in October. As a result Omulai borehole was drilled on 24 th January 2008. To Lucy: “This borehole looks like a dream. I never expected that there would be such an opportunity like this one during my life time. “Now there is improvement in the lives of community members. Cases of stomach pain are no more.” She adds, “Distance from home to water source is now short and as a result less time spent collecting water and more time spent on economic activities like gardening.” Besides, Lucy says, “Cases of irregular schooling are no more for children since water source is now near and majority of children are not sick of water related diseases any more.” According to local council one chairperson of the village Mr. Etemu John Stephen, about 500 community members collect water from this borehole with more women benefiting in terms of numbers than men. “This has made community members to save money formally used for treatment of water related diseases. Apart from malaria, sicknesses that used to be common like diarrhoea are no more,” he says. After construction of the borehole, water source committee members were trained and tasked with responsibility of managing the water source. It comprises nine members four of whom are women. Lucy thanked Barclays and the Guardian for accepting to fund this project and AMREF for implementing it in Katine. 4.5.2 Education case study Engendering education - Ameo Grace of Amorikot Community School Education Grace Ameo is one of the two women teachers of Amorikot community school. She was posted as a teacher to the school on 27 th February 2008 and the first women teacher to join the staff of the community school as a result of AMREF lobbying the DEO. She is not married but has 3 dependants that she takes care of, John, Jane and Emma. John and Jane are both in Senior 1 (about 15 years old in Katine) and Emma is in primary 5 (about 13 years old in Katine) Grace says that her joining the school filled the gap of senior woman teacher. This is a position that is critical for girls especially in primary schools in Uganda. A senior woman teacher in a school is responsible for providing guidance and counseling sessions for girls at the same time educating girls on their growth and development. Adolescence for primary school girls is a critical period and yet the ‘aunties’ who used to provide this education to girls in the community are no longer doing it. Mothers feel embarrassed to talk to their girl children about sexuality. When they have children in school they hope that the senior lady will play KCPP six monthly narrative report - October 2007 to March 2008 27
Page 1 and 2: KATINE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS PROJE
Page 3 and 4: LIST OF ACRONYMS AIDS Acquired Immu
Page 5 and 6: and 5 of the PEAP; (Goal 2: Increas
Page 7 and 8: � Water quality and water borne d
Page 9 and 10: 1.2 Development context in the dist
Page 11 and 12: low as 24%. The school drop out rat
Page 13 and 14: and responsibilities but are inter-
Page 15 and 16: KCPP conducted a community survey w
Page 17 and 18: The community survey revealed that
Page 19 and 20: aim is to serve as Rural Innovation
Page 21 and 22: home visits, sensitising household
Page 23 and 24: meetings with health staff to addre
Page 25: � Improved coordination due to fo
Page 29 and 30: 5.0 PARTNERSHIP AND COORDINATION WI
Page 31 and 32: 6.1.4 Recommendations � VHTs need
Page 33 and 34: � In an integrated project, delay
Page 35 and 36: first six months of the Katine proj
Page 37 and 38: District membership: � District E

KATINE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS PROJECT - Guardian.co.uk

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