A Headteacher in a Tough Position

It was January 2022, and Bulumwaki primary school was struggling. The new year had brought 836 pupils to the school, but there was no clean water. “We really needed a borehole (well), but we did not have the resources to get one drilled, and we had no way to raise that kind of money,” recalls Namutubu Oliver, the school’s head teacher.

Namutubu Oliver - head teacher at the Bulumwaki primary school in Uganda — Bulumwaki’s head teacher Namutubu Oliver

Just a 10-minute walk from the school was a community well that they could use. Most days, this was not too big a problem. It did take 20 minutes to get there and back, which meant missing half a lesson. But there were days when the lines at the well were long, and on those days, the children would take an hour or more to get water.

The Shadoof

The second option was a hand-dug waterhole locally known as a ‘shadoof.’ The water from the shadoof was neither clean nor safe to drink, but on days when the lines at the well were long, the shadoof was the only option.Mukiisa Priscilla is a student at Bulumwaki. She hated missing lessons and would get frustrated standing in line at the community well. “In the mornings, the school would tell us we needed to go and fetch water. They asked us because we were older and stronger than the little children, but we did not want to miss school.” For Mukiisa, the new well meant that students no longer have to walk for water. “The most frustrating situation was when we were studying for our final exams, and they would make us stop to fetch water.”

The headteacher knew she was in a tough position. The last year of primary school is when the students’ exam results matter the most, so while she hated sending them, she had no choice. The younger children were not as strong or able to walk as fast, so it took them longer, and they missed more school. She is relieved she no longer has to make such difficult choices.

The shadoof had its problems too! Every dry season, it would stop producing water. It was also impossible to keep livestock out, so it was always polluted with animal waste.

Before the Well

Oliver’s voice gets quiet as she remembers how things were. “There were times when the children were sick with the flu or had colds and needed water for their dry throats or to wash their faces and hands. I had to tell them to wait until break or lunchtime when we could get more water.”

“Things were much worse for girls during their menstrual cycle. We have a changing room for girls, but without water, it was not much use. Some menstruating girls had to just sit and wait until we could go and fetch water. This resulted in poor hygiene, embarrassment, and missing lessons,” remembers the headteacher. In smaller schools, teachers and students end up using the same toilets. With toilets being used by so many students and no water to keep them clean, the teachers’ frustration was understandable. And no water for washing hands after using the toilets opened the school up to even more health risks.

Mukungu Grace - a teacher from Bulumwaki primary school in Uganda — Mukungu Grace holds a fellow teacher’s young child.

Mukungu Grace, one of the affected teachers, recalls. “We had to be careful about what we ate, so that if possible, we could wait to use the toilet at home. The ones at the school were just too disgusting.”

Bulumwaki Primary Now Has Clean Water

Bulumwaki primary in Uganda has a new water well thanks to the non-profit Drop in the Bucket — Bulumwaki primary school’s new well.

By October of that year, it was a different story at Bulumwaki. With a new borehole well drilled by the non-profit Drop in the Bucket, the school was now thriving. “I am happy about the new well! Happy about the health of my students. Happy about the hygiene of our girls, and I’m happy our teachers are happy,” says Oliver, the headteacher.

With every contribution to Drop in the Bucket, you can be part of the solution that provides clean and safe water to schools in Uganda and South Sudan. By supporting our work, you not only ensure that students can focus on their studies and stay healthy but also help empower communities to thrive. With your contribution, we can work towards a world where every child has access to the basic necessities of life, regardless of their circumstances.

How Clean Water Saves lives in African Health Centers

After a tiring day at the Alero Health Center III in Uganda, Awor Stella, was resting in the sleeping quarters. Little did she know that this evening would take a turn and become another example of how clean water saves lives in African hospitals. Awor works as the resident midwife at the facility. It was 2am, and outside she could hear voices that sounded like they were coming closer. When she heard her name being called, she instinctively jumped up, realizing what was needed.

Awor Stella Grace a nurse from the Alero Health Center III in Nwoya, Uganda

She thought back to several hours earlier in the day. Awor had washed down the delivery bed and cleaned all of the equipment using up the last of the facility’s water. She knew tomorrow would be another busy day and had planned on being ready in advance. What she had not anticipated was an emergency late-night delivery.

An African Hospital Operating Without Clean Water

January in Uganda falls in the middle of a dry season, and this year was particularly dry. The Alero Health Center III did not have its own source of clean water. It did have a rainwater harvesting tank, but the extreme weather left it arid and empty. This meant health center staff to collect water from local sources every morning before work. The local sources were predominantly hand-dug wells, locally referred to as unprotected springs. While these wells produced water, it was groundwater that was neither clean nor safe. But it was often the only water available.

“I was lucky that I had cleaned the equipment and delivery bed, but not so lucky in that more clean water would still be needed after the delivery,” explained Awor. Awor knew she would have to act fast. She collected all of the water she had in her home and brought it to the delivery room. It was late and dark outside, which made the idea of walking to the nearest well out of the question. That would be too dangerous for her at this time of night.

How a Midwife’s Quick Thinking Saves a Newborn Baby

Awor shook her head and explained how common this situation was for midwives in East Africa, where so many health centers lack access to clean water. “Health facility workers often go to the local residents to ask them for water in an emergency” she explained. It is not a safe or sustainable situation, and it often results in needless deaths.

With fatigue showing on her face, Awor has asked if Drop In The Bucket would drill a well for her health center. She knows we helped other facilities in the region. With clean water the health center would be able to help children like Lagum Prossy, the community’s newest member. Although Lagum’s first moments were challenging that early January morning, we are happy to say she made it – thanks to Awor Stella and the staff at the Alero Health Center III.

Now we just need to get them clean water.

CLEAN WATER CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

Follow Us

Follow Us

Copyright ©2024 Drop in the Bucket

Signup for our Newsletter