Salesian Missions’ Clean Water Initiative Benefits Almost 5,000 People
(ANS – Nafa Nkwanta, Ghana – February 15, 2022) – Close to 5,000 people in villages across the Bono region of Ghana have access to clean water thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions in New Rochelle. The seven projects, part of the Salesian Missions Clean Water Initiative, provided the villages with new boreholes, hand pumps, and in a few of the projects, water tanks.
Water remains one
of the main challenges in the Bono region. Access to the nearest available
water sources is several miles from these villages. The residents who live in
the region, mostly farmers, depend on
stream water for all their needs and have to share it with grazing animals.
The health and
social implications of using this water are having devastating effects on the
community. Residents have waited for a long time for a better and cleaner water
source for drinking, cooking, and other activities, and they are appreciative
of the support and assistance.
Leticia Gyan, a
community resident in the village of Nafa Nkwanta, said: “It has been our dream,
and we have been praying about it. It is really difficult to find drinking
water here when the stream dries. Sometimes we have to go to Senase, a
community 3 miles away, to get some water for drinking. So, we have to ration
it otherwise. When we finish it, we have to walk through hills and valleys to
reach Senase in order to get water again. I think now we can also bathe. I am
very happy. We are all happy.”
The chief and elder
of the Aboabo village also expressed appreciation, saying: “Many years of
long-distance walking in search of water on a daily basis has now come to an
end. With this precious gift, we think that you are not only giving us drinking
water but also helping us to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful,
and may God bless everyone involved. We are highly honored.”
U.N.-Water estimates
that worldwide 2.2 billion people are living without access to safe water. One
in four primary schools has no drinking water service, with students using
unprotected water sources or going thirsty. In addition, U.N.-Water notes that
more than 700 children under age 5 die every day from diarrheal disease linked
to unsafe water and poor sanitation.
“Water is essential
for life, which is why Salesian Missions has made it a priority that Salesian
programs around the globe have access to safe, clean water for the health and
safety of those we serve,” said Fr. Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions.
“Improving water access brings a sense of dignity to children and families and
reduces the number of waterborne illnesses.”
While Ghana’s
economy continues to improve, nearly 45% of the population lives on less than
$1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry
savannah region that covers roughly two-thirds of Ghana’s northern territory.
Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of
which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial
farming, which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.
To learn more about
the Salesian Missions Clean Water Initiative, go to SalesianMissions.org/water
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