Most of the
population of Al-Duba, Al-Khabela and Al-Okashia are migrants from the Horn of
Africa. They are amongst the most disadvantaged members of society, and often
miss out on social welfare initiatives. Gaining access to water and adequate
health facilities is very difficult for these people, especially because Al-Selo
is a mountainous province.
Less than
32% of Yemen’s
rural population have access to safe drinking water and the majority of people
use polluted wells or springs. One area that suffers particularly poor access
to water is Al-Akhdam in Al-Duba district. People living in Al-Akhdam do not
have water pipes in their houses and the village is not close to water tanks
either.
Throughout
Al-Selo many villagers are unaware of the measures they can take to prevent
water contamination, which means that disease spreads fast. The standard of
public health facilities in Al-Selo is very low and resources are
overstretched. One health centre is currently serving the 17,883 people that
live in Al-Okashia, Al-Duba and Al-Khabela. The centre is poorly equipped and
staff are not adequately trained in specialised medical practices, such as lab
testing. Some people travel away from their district to seek medical attention,
this can complicate their health problems and is often very expensive.
Project Objectives
To provide
the marginalised community of Al-Akhtam with access to safe drinking water and
to improve the standard of public health facilities in three districts of
Al-Selo.
Project Activities
- Constructing a network of pipes to pump clean water from a
reservoir up the mountain to Al-Akhdam.
- Constructing one new health centre and rehabilitating two others.
- Providing basic equipment and medical supplies at all three centres.
- Training six women as midwives, lab technicians and health
educators.
- Training health educators, teachers, students and community leaders
on health education and hygiene practices.
Beneficiaries
25,000 people will benefit from the Al-Selo Water and
Health project.