Access to drinking water for the Achuar indigenous population, the local health center and the students residence

This initiative aims to build the water distribution system that will serve the primary school and college, family homes and the health center and create a local board, which will be formed to manage water management potable.

CONTEXT

The town of Wasakentsa is located 40 minutes by plane from Macas, the capital of Morona Santiago (Ecuador), and 66 km from Taisha (20 minutes by plane). It can only be accessed by air, since it is located in the middle of the Amazon jungle.Currently, the population of Wasakentsa is supplied with water from a natural stream, without treatment, which is distributed through an "aqueduct" system through the facilities of the educational unit, residence and health center, but the water does not reach the family homes, or elementary school. This system was built 30 years ago, and requires repair and expansion.

This initiative aims to

1) Build the water distribution system that will serve the primary school and college, family homes and the health center and create a local board, which will be formed to manage the management drinking water and

2) Training the population in the correct use of water through workshops, supported by audiovisual materials and bilingual manuals.

As for basic infrastructure and services, 100% of the Achuar population has  homes adapted to their environment and culture, made with open wooden walls, thatched roof tied with vegetable fiber. 100% of the population does not have access to drinking water, sewerage. Several families have a small solar panel that provides electric light in minimal capacity.

The prevalent pathologies in the Achuar population of the Communities served by the center of Wasakentsa, are mostly preventable diseases, but it must be considered that access and use of safe water, as well as basic cleaning, are not guaranteed. The detail of prevalent diseases in the area is: Acute Rhinopharyngitis (Common Cold); Intestinal parasitosis; Diarrhea, Gastroenteritis, Back pain; Gastritis; Impetigo; Dermatophytosis, Mycosis, Tinea; Cystitis; Acute conjunctivitis and Acute tonsillitis.

PROJECT

The objective of the project is to provide the Wasakentsa community with drinking water and thus reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal and dermal diseases in the population.

To achieve this objective, it is planned to achieve two results:

R1. The aquifer infrastructure necessary to provide drinking water to the community will be built and a local board will be created and formed to manage the management of drinking water.

R2. The population will be trained to apply healthy habits in the care of water and personal, family and community hygiene, and for this, it will work with children between 5 and 12 years old so that they acquire habits regarding the proper use of water. water and hygiene.Teenagers and high school students will also work on the concept of proper use of water and the importance of respect for the environment, which will result in various reforestation activities.

BENEFICIARY PEOPLE

Direct beneficiaries:

221 People. 84 Women and 137 Men: External and internal indigenous students, University indigenous students - Intercultural-bilingual education, Achuar families in the area and staff of the Health Center and volunteers.

Indirect beneficiaries:

850 People / 425 Women and 425 Men