Global Hand Washing Day is a great reason to highlight our water, sanitation and hygiene work in The Gambia. Improving access to water and raising hygiene practices is life saving. Key among these activities was the implementation of a project that aims to support the repair of 80 wells across the country. This provides communities with access to safe water that can then be carried small distances to their homes, ensuring the whole family can wash their hands regularly. This reduces the risk of disease and provides a hygienic environment at home.
We have formed and strengthened local community groups to manage and maintain the pumps so they can work for the long term.
The picture above shows the addition of a borehole for the community of Jamwaly in the Central River Region in The Gambia. The water point, which was completed in February 2020 has provide a community of 265 people safe and clean water that can be used by all, and importantly can be carried back to their homes quickly and efficiently, negating the previous time consuming and difficult task of walking large distances to the nearest water point that was once common place for the Jamwaly community.
This means that households have a regular supply of water and it can be used to wash hands and other hygiene focused tasks that would otherwise have been a low priority through limited supply. The importance of regularly hand washing cannot be underestimated and this access will have a lasting impact on the family’s health.