GWI rushes aid to Kamarang following diarrhoea outbreak
Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and its surrounding areas on Friday last received 15 filters from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to assist in the purification of drinking water in light of reports of an outbreak of diarrhoea there.
GWI officials look on as a resident tries using a filter for the first time
Minister within the Communities Ministry with responsibility for Water, Dawn Hastings, led a team of officials into the community to assess the water situation, provide technical assistance, and a temporary solution in the form of Lifesaver filters.
The Regional Executive Officer was also a part of the team and assisted with the distribution to the communities.
Filters were distributed to Warawatta Village, Kamarang Primary and Nursery Schools, Kako Village, Upper Mazaruni, Kamarang District Hospital and Quebanang Primary School.
While presenting the filters GWI Head Dr Richard Van West-Charles explained that they will serve as an immediate preventive measure to the diarrhoea outbreak and also assured villagers of GWI’s commitment to evaluate the area with the aim of installing wells to serve their long-term needs.
Dr Van West-Charles also indicated his plan to fulfil President David Granger’s call for equity between the coastland and hinterland: “I see no reason why you shouldn’t have equal access to potable water.”
Responding to questions by the managing director about their usual source of water, some villagers explained that they use water from a creek, while others use from a pond for drinking. The children, they said, use from the river too when they are playing and become dehydrated.
Residents therefore requested that all communities get access to the wells that are expected to be drilled since in the past the well only catered to one section of the community. The residents of Warawatta also noted that the well there has been nonfunctional for some three years.
In Quebanang, GWI’s technical personnel assisted in reactivating the supply system that was out of service for quite some time. This was done by repairing the community’s photovoltaic system.
Meanwhile, Minister Hastings told residents that the filters will bring relief to the communities of Region Seven, as it can even be used to convert the water from the river into potable drinking water.
The GWI intervention comes on the heels of reports of an outbreak of diarrhoea and according to Dr Lakshmi Narain of the Upper Mazaruni, Kamarang District Hospital, almost all of the cases seen were water borne.
GWI will be revisiting Region Seven areas to determine the best suited sites for the drilling of wells.
