IMPROVED ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER FOR RURAL POPULATIONS IN NORTHERN CÔTE D’IVOIRE
Aware of its social responsibility, Ivoire Coton continues its actions in favor of cotton farming communities in order to improve their daily lives.
Thus during the 2022-2023 campaign, the populations of villages without access to drinking water were at the center of the attention of General Management with a view to providing them with this precious liquid source of Life.
To do this, in partnership with CMIA (6 HPHP) and the REINHART Foundation (1 HPHP), human-powered hydraulic pumps (HPHP) were created in seven villages, to the the great joy of 3,198 beneficiaries. The total cost of these installations was 64,086,999 FCFA, including 39,029,442 FCFA financed by CMIA, 6,559,570 FCFA by the REINHART Foundation and 18,497,987 FCFA for Ivoire Coton.
The localities concerned were :
- Nambé in the Sarhala area ;
- Ouatireguekaha in the Dianra area ;
- Konatevogo in the Toumoukoro sector ;
- Titogo 2 in the Katogo area ;
- Koungbéni in the Odienné area ;
- Zandougou in the Madinani area ;
- Kartenekaha in the Dianra village area.
In each locality, a water point management committee (COGEPE) has been set up. It’s members, mainly women, were trained theoretically and practically on site (within villages) including the WASH concept. A few men (2 on average) are there to provide their know-how in the maintenance of the structures.
These human-powered hydraulic pumps are highly appreciated by the populations because they have reduced cases of morbidity (diarrheal diseases, typhoid, guinea worm, etc.) and the distance to fetch water from backwaters.. Ultimately, healthy populations are more available for activities in the fields and save money on health care (consultations, prescriptions). These benefits are found in this sentence from Mrs. BAMBA Rokia, matron and President of the women of Zandougou : “we had difficulty having quality and quantity water for our household chores, and for consumption. In fact, the only source of water was 3 km far from the village and was used by both animals and people. It was a source of diarrheal diseases especially”.
The official reception, of the Pump offered to the village of KARTENEKAHA by the REINHART Foundation, took place on August 11, 2023.