The construction of a new shallow well at the village of Kapenda in Self Help's Msondole Project area is set to reduce dramatically the incidents of water borne illness in the locality.

For the past number of years there has been alarmingly high rates of diarrhoea and cholera amongst the 458 households in the village - the most likely cause being the unprotected shallow well situated 2.5 km away, which was the only source of water in the area.

Problems with illness were particularly acute in the rainy season, when contaminants could freely wash into the drinking source.

Recently, Self Help Africa teamed up with the local Ministry of Health, and assisted villagers with the election of a village health committee to oversee the construction of a new protected shallow well.

Committee members received training in shallow well construction, malda pump (hand pump) maintenance, and in hygiene and sanitation measures that are required to avoid future contamination.

The community sourced bricks for the construction locally, while funding for cement, a hand-pump, and for the costs of skilled labour was provided by Self Help, who liaised with the Ministry of Health and Dept of Ground Water to provide technical and supervisory support on the well construction work.

The new shallow well, which is located close to the village, was recently completed, and is serving a village community of more than 2,500 people.

Incidents of water borne diseases have already fallen drastically, while time and resources spent on caring for patients who are sick has been considerably reduced.

According to the World Health Organisation diarrhoea is estimated to kill up to 2 million people (mainly young children) in the developing world each year.

Self Help Africa in Malawi

Self Help Africa began working in Malawi in the late 1990's - the organisation's Irish arm (formerly Self Help Development International) implementing programmes in the south of the country, and it's UK operation (formerly Harvest Help) in the north.

The organisation is currently engaged in implementing a series of area based programmes, and measures to build capacity at regional level, so that communities can improve their lives and the living standards and conditions of their people.