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Water and Community Health in South Africa
Since May 2007, GIC Director Karen Firehock has worked with faculty and students from the University of Virginia to evaluate problems related to water infrastructure and community health in the Venda Region of northern South Africa (S.A.) and to develop community-based solutions. The water and community health project was developed to address the critical problem caused by the lack of access to clean water across the globe. Two thirds of international water interventions fail within the first five years, often because the community is not engaged in designing and maintaining the water system. This project seeks to model how community values and ideas can be incorporated while building local capacity so villagers can maintain these systems and take charge of their community’s health.
According to health workers in the Venda Region, in some areas up to 30% of people are living with HIV aids. Lack of access to fresh and safe water can have dire consequences for those who have HIV. Water-borne diseases cause diarrhea that leaves its sufferers dehydrated, malnourished, and more prone to infections. In addition, diarrhea may prevent the absorption of patients' life-saving anti-HIV medications so they die sooner. Studies have shown that lack of access to clean water is one of the top problems faced by local family caregivers for people living with HIV. The caregivers are often not able to keep patients clean and hydrated because of water scarcity. Time spent fetching water that is miles away can reduce time available for patient care or for seeking jobs.
GIC director Karen Firehock co-facilitated a workshop in May 2008 with faculty and community residents from the U.S. and S.A. to develop a shared research agenda and project plans. Staff and students met with five villages to learn of their concerns and challenges in providing safe drinking water. The team chose the villages of Thoyandou and Tshibuvumo and are working with an interdisciplinary team to assess community awareness, knowledge, threats and existing water infrastructure in terms of access, health, and safety. A community water census and mapping effort conducted in 2009 have provided valuable data that will be used to design workable solutions. The outcome of this three-year process will be a model for a community based water planning to create safe, abundant and affordable water systems. Results from this multi-year project will be reviewed and shared with other regions and countries interested in implementing community-based approaches to water infrastructure protection. To donate to this project please send a donation to GIC marked “South Africa Water Project.”
   
Pictures from South Africa from left to right: deer, giraffe, children and water, water team
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