For the community of Lukanda B in central Zambia, the rehabilitation of the local water borehole has brought new life to the village.
It is one of 38 boreholes in Kapiri Mposhi District that Operation Eyesight repaired in 2022, thanks to a team of pump minders we have trained in the area. Locally available, safe water has made a difference in the lives of parents like Mutinta.
“When the borehole broke down in 2005, I was only able to wash my children’s clothes once or twice a month,” says Mutinta. “Now I’m able to wash clothes almost every day, because there is clean and safe water nearby.”
Before the borehole was fixed, Mutinta says her 15-year-old daughter, Memory, would frequently miss or be late for school because she had to walk long distances to fetch water for the family, a task that traditionally falls to girls. When Memory did attend school, she was often tired and her schoolwork suffered.
“I’m happy that my daughter will now be able to attend school regularly,” Mutinta adds.
Chali Chisala Selisho, our country director for Zambia, says that clean water nearby will play a key role in preventing the spread of trachoma, a bacterial eye infection that leads to irreversible blindness, as well as other diseases.
“Proper hand and face hygiene and sanitation are the best lines of defence against not only trachoma but other diseases like cholera, malaria, dysentery and diarrhea, which are on the rise in the area,” Chali adds.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the hard work of pump minders, Lukanda B’s future is bright!
Check out our new video from Zambia and learn more about how access to fresh water and sanitation is transforming the lives of individuals and entire communities.
