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Problems for the elderly
In many of the African countries where WaterAid works life expectancy is frighteningly low. For those lucky enough to reach 'old age', life does not get any easier. Water-related illnesses, HIV/AIDS, and political conflicts leave behind broken families, orphans, widows and mothers who have lost their children. In a society that relies on the fit and healthy members of a family to care for the infirm, those without this support network can find collecting water particularly difficult. Rosa Malambo was born in Zambia in 1947 and is pictured (right) collecting water from near the river Magoye from a hole she digs in the sand. Rosa lost all four of her children and now has no-one to help her collect the water. The long distances travelled to watering holes can be extremely difficult for the old and infirm.
Mangalita Siamajele, also from Zambia, didn't go to school and so doesn't know how old she is. At maybe 60 years old, she is pictured (right) returning from the borehole that is used when the river bed is dry; "I am so tired." she said "Where I have come from is very far, walking with 20 litres on my head. I am old, I have a bad hip and am always tired, carrying this bucket twice a day, I need to get home, I need to rest." But even with a water point closer to home, in built up urban areas competition at the well can leave those less able waiting for longer as the strongest people push in front. "Over time the queue for the open well got worse and worse. If you weren't strong you couldn't get near the well as there were so many people crowding round. You had to be strong to push your way to the front and throw your bucket down the well. If you weren't strong enough then people would push you over," says Awabo Osman, a 50 year old lady (pictured below) from Ghana.
Her community now has clean water on tap and life has changed for the better. "Now people queue here peacefully and don't push each other as the water flows faster so the queue is much shorter. In the old days if you were weak and elderly you could only beg people at the front of the queue to get some water for you. If you were lucky you might have a daughter who could fetch it for you," she explains. WaterAid is working in its country programmes not only to improve the closeness and availability of fresh, clean water supplies but to also ensure that those less able to collect and pay for it are given the help and subsidies they need. In Nigeria and elsewhere WaterAid has successfully promoted a 'vulnerability ranking' system which assesses a person's level of poverty according to indicators which the community suggests themselves. This way the elderly and infirm are given support and water subsidies depending on indicators like the distance they need to travel to fetch the water, their access to medical facilities and the type of house they live in and this leads to an equitable allocation of the supply.
Salya Mwiinga was born in born 1938 and lives on her own with her orphaned grandchildren, Trinity and Junza. She works hard looking after the children and has no one who can help her fetch water. A smile spreads across Salya's face as she talks about the well that WaterAid has helped install nearby. "I collect the water to wash the clothes from the well. I like the well, the water is clean and the well is kept clean all the time. Moreover it is nearby which makes it easier for me as I am getting old!" Donate today and help make a difference. Read more on the impact of water and sanitation on poverty Find out about the impact of water on children
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