Health
Wassa IDPs Hail CAF, Philanthropist Over Solar Borehole
Geoffrey Bulus, the camp chairman, described the intervention as timely, noting that access to clean water would provide life-saving support for displaced residents facing persistent water shortages.
“We appreciate this wonderful intervention today, because to give us water, you give us life.
“We used to go to the stream to fetch water. We even lost three children because of cholera outbreak two months ago.
“However, we thank God for this support, which will reduce such incidences,” he said.
Mrs Hafsatu Hamman, the camp’s women leader, described the project as a symbol of hope for displaced families who had endured years of hardship and numerous challenges.
“This intervention is more than a borehole; it is a gift of hope, good health and renewed confidence for displaced families who have endured years of hardship,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs Margaret Dauda, a community member, said the lack of clean water had exposed families to serious health risks and increased their daily hardships.
“For years, we used to trek to fetch water from unsafe streams, which exposed us to cholera and other waterborne diseases.
“But with this intervention, we now have access to clean, safe and reliable water, which will improve our health, restore our dignity and give our children a better future,” she said.
Mrs Elizabeth Duile, CAF’s executive director, said the organisation prioritised the project because women and children in displacement camps faced heightened vulnerability and inadequate access to essential services.
“We work in the IDP camps for women who are vulnerable, displaced women and children. These are our fifth year in existence, and we are happy to celebrate ourselves.
“One of the initiatives we have is to restore water to the IDP camp in Wassa.
”This initiative is important because before now, the community had a borehole, but it got bad and there was no maintenance, so they depended on the stream,” she said.
Duile explained that the solar-powered facility would provide a sustainable solution to water shortages, particularly given the camp’s unreliable electricity supply and limited infrastructure for essential services.
“The important thing is that this is a solar-powered borehole, which means they do not require electricity to have water because electricity is a problem in the camp.
“Children would not have to go down to the stream to fetch water, while women would not have to lose time before preparing things for the household. They can simply fetch water and return home,” she said.
Dr Segun Showunmi, convener of The Alternative Movement and sponsor of the project, said the intervention aimed to restore dignity and improve living conditions for displaced persons.
“There is nothing that gives joy and happiness more than being able to contribute, however little, to make life meaningful, especially for people who have been displaced.
“Some of these people had different lives before insurgency. Some have lost husbands, children, brothers and everything, and now they are here.
“We cannot afford to forget them as we live our comfortable lives all over the place, or even our not so comfortable life,” he said.
He urged individuals and organisations to sustain support for vulnerable communities, emphasising that humanitarian interventions remained essential to improving the wellbeing and living conditions of displaced persons.(NAN)
