Nthabiseng
Matjeane and ’Mamotumi Sekoati of Thaba-Bosiu have to
walk about 12 kilometres every day from their home village to
their local primary school.
Even though they are now used to walking, these two little grade
4 girls still find it hard to walk the long distance without
drinking water, especially in the afternoon when the temperatures
are high.
There are no clean water sources between the school and their
village except for small well, which springs from between two
tiny rocks on their way home.
This is the only well where Nthabising, ’Mamotumi and
other schoolmates normally draw drinking water from. But the
wells are not covered, so the water is easily contaminated.
The girls are among the 22 per cent of the Lesotho population
who do not have access to clean water.
“We have recently learnt from our science class that drinking
unclean water is not healthy and we are now afraid that we may
contract disease if we continue drinking from these wells,”
says Nthabiseng.
These girls say they know about the Lesotho Red Cross Society
because it helps some of their orphaned and vulnerable schoolmates
with school fees, uniforms and school books.
Nthabising says she hopes “the Red Cross could also erect
a water tap for us in this area so that we could have clean
drinking water for our school.”
Even though Lesotho boasts of one of Africa’s biggest
dams, the Katse dam, there is still lack of water in most parts
of the country. And the demand for clean water and proper sanitary
facilities has increased given the prevalence of HIV and AIDS
in the country.
“The need for clean water especially when one is dealing
with AIDS clients is very high in our area,” says one
care facilitator. “In most cases, children have the responsibility
of looking after their sick parents and without clean water
nearby it becomes quite a big challenge for children,”
she said.
This year the Lesotho Red Cross Society in partnership with
the Spanish Red Cross Society will be implementing a new Community
Home-Based Care Project in Thaba-Bosiu and Mafeteng. “The
plan is to integrate into this project a water and sanitation
activity,” says the Dr. Thabelo Ramatlapeng the Lesotho
Red Cross Secretary General.
Waterborne diseases pose a big threat to people living with
HIV and a number of national Red Cross Societies, aware of the
need to make living environments as safe as possible, are incorporating
water and sanitation elements to the HIV/AIDS programming.
Water demand has risen considerably in Lesotho, largely as a
result of increasing requirements by industry in urban centres.
Plans include the development of the Metolong dam and water
supply for various towns.
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On
their long daily walk to school, Nthabiseng Matjeane and
’Mamotumi Sekoati have access to only one water
source – a small uncovered well that is easily contaminated
(p12814)
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The
Lesotho Red Cross is improving access to safe water, especially
within the context of HIV/AIDS programmes (p12815)
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