Clean water for better health outcomes in Ezeagu Local Government Area

RAIN project
Image: WaterAid/Solomon Fran

Obinofia Nduino and other surrounding communities in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State is blessed with several natural sources of water, yet have no access to clean and safe water for their consumption and domestic use. This may be attributed to the undulating and hilly topography of these communities. For years, the people in the five villages of Obinofia Ndiuno used contaminated water from Gwogwo River, which is about 5km away from their community, for domestic use. Their preferred water source, Iyi-itu spring water, is at the top of the Ugwu Okachi hill.

Despite reeling with pains from climbing the hill to access this spring water, community members revere and protect this water source, as it is the only source of potable water for the community. Mrs. Ike Benedict, 50, the Chief Nursing Officer at the Obinofia Ndiuno Health Centre explains the impact the rehabilitation of the solar-powered borehole, under the intervention, has had on their health outcomes.

“Before this project, we spent an average of NGN 8,000 to NGN 12,000 every month to buy water from tankers for the health centre. It was a difficult time for the health centre because we generated very little income from handling only outpatients and a few child deliveries. With the outbreak of COVID-19, the situation would have been unbearable if not for the intervention. Today, our joy knows no bounds and we now have less cases of water-borne diseases in the community to worry about.”

Juliet Okeke, 40, is a mother of four children and owns a retail provision store in Obinofia Ndiuno community. She could not hold back her excitement and gratitude for their new water source. 

RAIN project
Image: WaterAid/Solomon Fran

You cannot fetch water from Iyi-itu spring twice in a day, no matter how strong you are. After going for one trip, you can barely stand because your legs will be shaking. I could see the pain on my children’s faces everytime they return from climbing the hill to fetch water from Iyi-itu spring. Now, we do not have to go through all of that stress and discomfort to get clean water. Our lives have changed forever.”