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Salesian Entity Facilitates Access to Clean Water to Hundreds in Rundu Vicariate, Namibia

People living in the Ngwa-ngwa village, close to Rundu, Namibia, have access to clean water thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. Credit: Salesian Missions

The U.S.-based development arm of the Religious Institute of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), Salesian Missions, has facilitated clean water supply to at least 250 dwellers of Ngwa-ngwa village in Namibia’s Apostolic Vicariate of Rundu. 

Through the “Clean Water Initiative”, SDB members at the Catholic Diocese have been able to “provide a new borewell and water tank to supply fresh drinking water.”

In a Monday, March 14 report, Salesian Missions officials say Ngwa-ngwa village, which is home to at least 250 people, has erratic shortages of water. 

“The only water source is a small river that runs during the rainy season and dries up in summer. During summer, people survive on water from unsafe holes and small wells, causing many to become sick,” they say in the March 14 report, and add, “The COVID-19 pandemic has also created a demand for improved hygiene.” 

“In order to address these water challenges, donor funding was used for a solar-powered borewell and a 10,000-liter tank (2,641 gallons)," officials of the Salesian entity say. 

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They add, "The tank was mounted three meters (3.2 yards) up from the ground to ensure stronger water pressure." 

"Solar power was used as an alternative green energy. Two water taps have also been installed to allow people to collect water without difficulty,” they say. 

In the report, Fr. Louis Malama has been quoted as saying, “People in this village have struggled a lot and suffer so much due to lack of water. "

The Catholic Priest who oversaw the implementation of the initiative adds, “The new water supply will alleviate unnecessary sicknesses and will help the start of a vegetable garden that will reduce poverty in the village.”

“This new water source also provided clean water access at Don Bosco Youth Primary School in the village. Clean water will help prevent illness caused by waterborne disease and increase the number of children coming to school to learn," the SDB Priest further says. 

More in Africa

According to the World Bank, Namibia is just one of nine countries in Africa considered as upper middle income, but poverty is still prevalent with extreme wealth imbalances. 

Namibia’s poverty rate is 32 percent with an unemployment rate of 29.6 percent, a report by Trading Economics indicates.

The same report shows that poverty in the Southwestern African nation is acute in the Northern regions of Kavango, Oshikoto, Zambezi, Kunene and Ohangwena, where upwards of one-third of the population lives in poverty. HIV prevalence in the country is 16.9 percent, the report indicates.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.