Solar-Powered Well for a Health Clinic in Niger

Thanks to your support and the support of hundreds of other donors, a new health clinic water system is now under construction in Togoba, Mali.

Currently, when midwife Aichata Coulibaly and healthcare assistant Lamine Ballo, of the Togoba Healthcare Facility, care
for sick infants, they have no access to clean drinking water. Even in the treatment room, there are no safe water points for drinking, handwashing, or infection prevention. Staff and families must collect water from unprotected wells, exposing both patients and healthcare workers to serious health risks.

The health care facility in Togoba serves 20 communities with an estimated total population of 11,354 people, including 2,044 children under the age of 5. According to facility records, an average of 25 births are registered each month, and approximately 10 community members seek medical care daily for various health conditions. Since the only water point accessible from the clinic is an open ground water well, the Togoba Health Center has a critical need for a water supply system that ensures access to clean drinking water at points of care and within sanitation facilities.

When the project is completed this September, there will be nine taps in the health facility courtyard: a four-tap standpipe for safe drinking water consumption, two taps located near latrines for handwashing, one washing area dedicated to pregnant and postpartum women, and one public standpipe for community use. The remaining six taps will be installed in the delivery room and at other points of care within the facility.

The project will ensure that healthcare staff, patients, and visitors have access to clean water and avoid long journeys to collect water from unsafe sources. Staff will be able to provide improved healthcare services and comply with hygiene protocols to prevent the spread of infections. The availability of safe water in maternity and delivery services will enhance the quality of care provided to pregnant and postpartum women, as well as their young children. Access to WASH services will also encourage community members to seek care. Convenient access to drinking water also will reduce the burden of water collection for women and girls, allowing them to devote their time to schooling or income-generating activities.