The Naibiri Health Center II Now Has Clean Water
A lifelong commitment to caring for people
Even as a child, Kamoyi Wilson from the Naibiri Health Center ii in Nwoya, Uganda knew what he wanted to do with his life: he wanted to help people. His dream was to become a doctor, so in school he focused on science classes. “Helping the sick has always been my passion,” he explains. Unfortunately, Wilson’s family couldn’t afford the school fees required to become a doctor. Undeterred, he made the decision to become a nurse instead.
Kamoyi Wilson First Gets Hired at the The Naibiri Health Center II
He began working at the Naibiri Health Center II and immediately fell in love with the work. The hours were long and exhausting, but every day was another opportunity to help people. Each night he would go to sleep each night exhausted but happy.
After a few months, he started contemplating how he could improve things for the patients. Two issues kept bothering him and he knew he had to try to help. The first was the inadequate supply of medicine at the medical center. What medicine was available often wasn’t the right stuff. He started advocating for better access to medications, and his efforts paid off. With that problem resolved, he turned his attention to a larger and more pressing issue: access to clean water.
While the facility did have a limited access to water, the situation was far from ideal. The medical center’s water source was a rainwater harvesting system, which collected water from the roof and stored it in a large tank. However, this water was neither filtered nor purified, and the dirty roof and rusty pipes of the catchment system affected both its taste and its purity. It was not ideal for giving to sick patients or keeping wounds clean.
During the rainy season and in the subsequent months, the facility had water. However, during the dry season, the situation became dire. A dry water tank meant the only option was to walk long distances to fetch water. Considering the number of patients the facility treated each day, the strain on the staff became an issue. At first, the health center’s cleaner took on the responsibility of fetching water, but soon they realized that she was spending the majority of her day walking to and from the well. This led to a lack of cleanliness and hygiene at the facility, and she would be exhausted at the end of each day. Other staff members and even patients and visitors tried to help by taking turns fetching water, but the daily demand for water was too great at the busy health center.
The local authorities sympathized but were unable to help. Their priority was supplying medicine and maintaining the facility’s operations. While they recognized the importance of clean water, they lacked the funds to get a well drilled.
The Naibiri Health Center II Gets a Water Well and Access to clean Water
Fortunately, things were about to change for Kamoyi and the health center. Drop in the Bucket had a team member in the area meeting with the local district water office. When he learned about the health center’s predicament, he visited Naibiri. As soon as he saw the situation, he knew this was a place that needed our help.
A hydro-geological survey was commissioned, identifying a location suitable for a well. The drilling process itself was relatively straightforward, and within a day, we had drilled down 50 meters and hit water. Tests confirmed that the water was clean and free of impurities or contaminants.
Now, the Naibiri Health Center has access to clean water, and everything has changed! Wilson couldn’t be happier, and the entire staff is thrilled that his persistent advocacy efforts paid off.