Water supply pumps & emergency assistance to victims of hurricane in Vitshumbi city Vitshumbi is an isolated lakeside city in the Virunga Park on the west coast of Lake Edward with a population estimated up to 2,772 households (13860 people) It has longer suffered from the lack of safe drinking water: women and children have to collect water from Lake Edward (which is the unique mean to have water in the city). Caritas Goma has built a hospital (with a maternity and a surgery room) to participate in the reduction of maternal and infant mortality (at least three maternal and child deaths were recorded each month). But after construction, the structure is not supplied with water. Cholera has established as endemic disease in this city 12/12 months. In 2011, the hospital recorded 326 new cases of cholera with 19 deaths, including 13 children under five years. Besides cholera, several cases of bacillary dysentery were recorded (an average of 7 new cases a month between February and August 2011). Cases of worm infestation are common; water-borne diseases, represent 30% of patients consulted the hospital and come on third position after malaria and sexual transmitted infections. In august 2011, an outbreak of cholera was reported last Auguste with 119 cases recorded during that single month. In addition to the problem of lack of drinking water and due to its geographical position, the city of Vitshumbi was affected by a vast hurricane, on August 22st, 2011, coming from the Lake Edward. That natural disaster took away roofs of houses, leaving homeless numerous of affected households. Many families especially those most vulnerable (returnees just arrived after running away from horrors of war without sufficient means to rebuild their roofs) have been forced to live with those in whose homes were not affected, thereby causing an indescribable overcrowding.
A total of 2,772 households in this village will be directly affected by the water pumped and outreach on hygiene promotion. Specifically, 150 vulnerable households whose homes were destroyed by the hurricane will receive assistance in sheets and nails to help them rehabilitate their homes. A joint community based committee composed by project staff (team of Caritas) and representatives of the beneficiaries may be added to the representatives of local authorities will participate in the identification / selection of 150 beneficiaries; on the basis of objective criteria commonly agreed and accepted by all stakeholders. This project will have four phases:
1. Community meetings with the beneficiaries about local contribution and the establishment of committees of the project (10 days)
2. The assistance to targeted households with roofs of house and in the meantime construction of the reservoir, (24 days)
3. The supply and distribution of water in the community, followed by hygiene promotion (BCC) within 3 months.
4. Monitoring and evaluation during the project life, and 6 months after the project. The medical Bureau of caritas Goma is committed to implementing medical monitoring over a longer period throughout community based committee trained and equipped.
The long-lasting Strategy will be followed by Vichumbi Health centre in collaboration with caritas Goma. Household will be contributing 0.5$ per month for the management of the system. In addition, the hospital, it was agreed with the responsible that in each invoice for medical care provided to each patient, a small amount will be incorporated in this to support the water system.