THE WATSAN EYE Is an email newsletter produced by UWASNET to share highlights and the contribution of CSOs in the Water and Sanitation sub-sector. June 1st—12th, 2020 Volume 1, Issue 6 IRC Uganda supports Kabarole district’s efforts in the prevention and mitigation of Covid-19 The International Water and will cost Sanitation Centre (IRC Uganda) ugx26,000,000 has supported Kabarole district’s (Twenty-six million efforts in the prevention and miti- ugshs). gation of Covid-19 in the following v. Procurement of 60 ways; drinking water i. Cash contribution of stations with ugx14,780,000 (Fourteen million membrane filters seven hundred eighty thousand for 18 health cen- Ugshs) for the District Health tres worth Team to conduct Infection Pre- ugx13,320,000 vention and Control (IPC) in (Thirteen million, health care facilities and risk three hundred management communication twenty thousand for public places like markets ugshs). Consign- ii. Airing of eight radio pro- ment is yet to ar- Olive Tumuhairwe the Health inspector supervising grammes on Jubilee FM and rive from Kenya. demarcation of 4 metre distance to avoid crowding. Photo by Voice of Tooro (VOT) for risk IRC is committed to management communication building WASH systems resilient worth ugx4,800,000(Four mil- enough to address even such global lion eight hundred ugshs). IRC health challenges. This offer builds paid directly to the radio sta- on earlier interventions to improve tions. WASH in health care facilities in iii. Procurement of Personal Pro- Kabarole. The low cost but high tective Equipment (PPE) in- impact interventions were based on cluding disposable gloves, the 2018 assessment report aprons and N95 masks worth The latrines were not only inade- ugx6,710,000 (Six million, seven quate in HCFs but existing struc- hundred ten thousand ugshs) di- tures fell below standards of sanita- rectly from Joint Medical tion facilities that provide safety, Stores Agent – Virika Pharma- privacy and convenience to the us- ceuticals Fort Portal . er. IRC contracted AHASA ( Ka- iv. Renovation of eight latrines in barole Hand Pump Mechanics health centers of Rubingo, Association) to renovate the latrines provide operation and Nyabuswa, Ruteete, Kasenda, Some of the funds went towards Kabende, Kaswa, Kidubuli and maintenance of water and sanita- tion services. renovation of latrines. Photo by IRC Kicwamba. The renovations Uganda. THE WATSAN EYE Page 2 Uganda Red Cross Society’s Covid-19 response in Kampala and Wakiso district The Uganda Red Cross Society i. Orientation of 6 branch manag- (URCS) operates countrywide with ers and 70 volunteers on under- over 100 staff and a network of standing Covid-19, how it is 360,000 members and volunteers. spread, prevented and demon- URCS has 51 branches country- stration were conducted on how wide. Each branch covers at least 2 to use PPEs and IPCs . They districts. were also oriented on communi- As a member of the national task ty case definition. Proper hand- force for public health emergencies, washing with soap demonstra- URCS has been working in partner- tions and social distancing were ship with Ministry of Health, UN conducted. agencies and other partners to pre- ii. Procurement of supplies was pare, prevent and response to epi- conducted namely IPC & PPE demics. supplies (chlorine, hand washing Following the presidential directive facilities, waste bins, gloves, issued on March 18th, 2020 prohib- aprons, face masks, face shield, iting mass gathering, URCS targeted gumboots); shade and furniture markets with the intention of reach- (tents, tables, chairs); thermome- ing many people with risk commu- ters and batteries. Hand washing with soap was nication and conduct screening in iii. URCS committed 7 vehicles to compulsory for people accessing the Kampala and Wakiso. A total of 13 support risk communication and markets. Photo by URCS priority markets in Kampala were screening in Kampala and to targeted namely; St. Balikudembe ensure that volunteers are deliv- v. URCS conducted screening of (Owino), Nakasero, Natete, Busega, ered on time. market venders and their buyers Kasubi, Wandegeya, Kalerwe, iv. URCS conducted risk communi- with the intention of identifying Nakawa, Ntinda New Market, cation and screening in the 16 people with abnormal tempera- Kyaliwanjala, Gaba, Kibuye and markets. In all these markets, tures. People with temperatures Kajansi. URCS teams had meetings with of ≥ 37.50C are isolated and In Wakiso district, 03 markets were the market leadership, and monitored. If their temperature targeted namely; Nansana Daily, agreed on implementation strat- remains consistently high, with Wakiso and Gayaza. egies including closing some en- other related signs and symp- The following were implemented in try gates to the markets to enable toms of Covid-19, they are response to Covid-19 namely; people to access handwashing referred for further investigation places and be screened. and management. Editorial Since the confirmation of the first UWASNET members’ visibility, cases of Covid-19 in Uganda in ear- accountability and transparency to This is the 3rd Issue of The ly March 2020, the Government of its partners. This newsletter presents WATSAN Eye newsletter focusing Uganda, through the Ministry of opportunities to learn from other on the contribution of CSOs to the Health has and still is spearheading CSOs and inform your organiza- national Covid-19 response in the Covid-19 national response. A tions' development programs. Uganda. number of partners including Civil If you want your work profiled in In this issue, a total of 10 Society Organizations (CSOs) are this newsletter, email a one-pager UWASNET member organizations’ contributing to the national re- & pictures to [email protected] share their contribution to the na- sponse. We share their contribution by June 17th, 2020. tional Covid-19 response plan. as part of reporting, and facilitating THE WATSAN EYE Page 3 SNV’s IWAS Project supports districts to boost water and hygiene during Covid-19 Amidst the Covid-19 communities force, we supported the dissemina- in rural areas lack access to safe wa- tion of messages pertaining to the ter. The Improving Water Supply Standard Operating Procedures Sustainability (IWAS) project has (SOPs) issued by the Ministry of been supporting communities to Water and Environment. These take responsibility of keeping their SOPs educate communities about water sources functional by consti- the importance of social distancing, tuting a user committee and contrib- handwashing with soap and water, uting monthly fees. Through form- fencing their water source and the ing a bigger umbrella board at sub- need to avoid crowding at the water county level individual committees source. We have seen positive receive support and are able to change in behavior and the project move towards preventive mainte- will continue to work with the com- John Robert Okello, the IWAS II Project nance. This approach has been munity structures to enhance aware- Manager adopted by most of the communi- ness. ties in the four target districts (Lira, has engaged two local organiza- Q2: What channels are being used Kole, Dokolo Alebtong). With the tions, Global Forum for Develop- to disseminate this information to outbreak of Covid-19, ensuring the ment (GLOFORD) and Children’s the communities? safety of the users of a rural water Chance International (CCI) who point became a critical issue. John Robert: We mostly use the will provide technical back up sup- local radio stations for information port and mentorship to the estab- John Robert Okello, the IWAS II dissemination and providing a plat- lished structures. This hard work of Project Manager shares his insights form for discussion and receiving establishing a diverse workforce and on how his team is working with great network now pays off. the district staff and the communi- feedback from beneficiaries calling Through these structures we are ties to keep the water sources safe, in. The project has also started translating the SOP issued by Minis- able to coordinate our support by free of contamination so as to pre- try of Water and Environment into phone with the teams on the vent the spread of Covid-19. the local languages for distribution ground. Where there is need for Q1. Can you share some of the and dissemination through the face to face meetings or support, I interventions put in place to keep water user committees. use my bicycle, especially in nearby communities safe from Covid-19 places in Adekokwok sub-county to Q3: How has Covid-19 impacted while accessing water? move and ensure that we adhere to the way you work? the government standard operating John Robert: Hands are key trans- John Robert: The biggest change is procedures. We are also fortunate mitters of disease causing organisms that direct engagement with stake- that a number of our SWSSB mem- including Covid-19. Given that the holders has become harder and re- bers such as the Sub-county Chiefs majority of our water sources are quires us to become creative and and Health Assistants are members boreholes, we have been working persisted in communication without of the Covid-19 task force and con- with the districts through the com- physical presence. Fortunately, the tinue to support the project activities munity support structures to mobi- project had already supported the within their communities. Sustaina- lize communities to put in place establishment of structures (Water ble water supply is more important temporary handwashing facilities at User Committees, Sub-county Wa- than ever now and we all have to the water sources. That way users ter Supply and Sanitation Boards play our role! can wash their hands before access- (SWSSB), Hand Pump Mechanics ing the water source. Working hand IWAS II is implemented with funding Associations) and working relation- in hand with the sub-county exten- from the Austrian Development ships with Parish WASH Coordina- sion workers, who are also members Cooperation (ADC).