Page 22 - Islands Business March 2022

Water

A Fiji LTDD ( Leptospirosis, Typhoid, Dengue and Diarrhea) team conducts outreach Upgrading work underway at the Tupapa area, Cook Islands, where a corroded
consultations in rural Fiji this month. Photo: Ministry of Health galvanised pipeline was replaced with a new PE (plastic) pipeline that will last up to
100 years. Photo: TTV
the Ministry says the cases recorded are within usual ranges, space that female students can use if they have their first
repeated flooding in some parts of the country has seen some periods in schools or if their menses arrives unexpectedly.
communities more at risk. While data is scarce, research has shown that “many girls do
As such, Fiji’s health ministry is encouraging people, “es- not have the facilities to manage menstruation effectively
pecially those in rural areas, informal urban areas, and any and with dignity” and that this can lead to poorer education
other areas where access to clean drinking water is limited, outcomes.
to boil all drinking water,” and take other precautions. For Water for Women Project Manager Alisi Evans, it is an
intangible outcome that has been most rewarding. “The most
Taking matters into their own hands fulfilling part of rolling out this program is witnessing the slow
Despite the difficulties posed by COVID, and the slippage but steady shift in gender norms concerning community water
in SDG targets, many communities are demonstrating a DIY management decision-making and practices in rural communi-
spirit. ties in Fiji,” she says. “In the last 4 years we’ve supported 20
Authors from the Vanuatu Skills Partnership, a “nationwide women to take on WASH leadership roles in water committees
initiative that aims to improve human resource development across 18 communities. This is no small feat when working
for service delivery reform in Vanuatu” recently wrote on the with indigenous and traditional structures.”
DevPolicy blog about a rural community project that saw the An enterprising community in Somosomo in the Yasawa
training of local plumbers and community members in main- group in Fiji, is setting an example to other villages. During
taining water supplies, and installing an ecological purification the training offered by Habitat for Humanity, a village water
water system. committee was established and continued to maintain the
The authors quote Philemon Ling, Torba Provincial Govern- village water supply and solar and mechanical power to the
ment Training Board Chairman, as saying the training was village borehole with no external funding. They harnessed the
really important: “Similar training has been delivered in the power of social media to tell their story, eventually attract-
past but without the implementation of a water system, ing funds for repairs as a result. The Fiji government is now in
trainees have not had the opportunity to apply their new discussion with the community as to how its learnings can be
knowledge and skills.” shared with other village committees.
In Fiji, Habitat for Humanity’s five-year Water for Women The COVID-19 pandemic and internal movement restric-
program has a similar focus, with decisions and actions on wa- tions deeply affected the program in the last year, Evans
ter management happening at the community level. [Editor’s says, “curtailing all engagements and construction works in
note: The author is a Habitat for Humanity Board member.] schools and communities. Despite this we were able to use
Water for Women works with 18 communities around Fiji mobile technology to stay in contact with our beneficiaries.
and has resulted in tangible outcomes such as water and We provided a small stipend to purchase credit so they could
sanitation upgrades in schools, handwashing stations outside highlight challenges and progress in maintaining good WASH
homes and kindergartens, and in a significant development, practices via phone calls and social media platforms.”
the creation of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) blocks.
These blocks in schools are fitted with a shower and change editor@islandsbusiness.com

22 Islands Business, March 2022