Water tanks to Makira villagers

 Thursday, 17 June 2010 15:05


VILLAGERS of Natagera, Nafinuatogo and Gupuna on Santa Ana have been reminded of the importance of playing their part in any free-aid funded project on their island.

Acting director of the Environmental Health Division of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Chris Ruku made the reminder when he was there recently.

Mr Ruku was speaking during the handing-over of water tanks provided by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme.

He said community contribution is a significant component to the successful completion of any aid-funded projects.

“The support of the community to provide free labour, trees for timbers, sand and a positive attitude is a key element to the successful completion of any project whether it is from the national government or aid donors,” Mr Ruku said.

“The people’s support in the rural areas is a vital component for the successful implementation of projects destined for the rural areas.

“It is for this reason that both the national government and donor agencies placed greater emphasis on community contribution.”

Mr Ruku reiterated that without community cohesion projects would either fail to materialise or fail to complete on time.

“It is important for communities to be aware that these projects that are being given to our communities by the national government or donor agencies have a specific time frame indicating its implementation phases and when to complete them.”

He said it is common knowledge that a lot of projects have been unsuccessful in rural communities because people failed to honor their part in the implementation of these projects.

Mr Ruku had taken his time to talk at length on the importance of communities living up to their part of the bargain in project implementation in their communities.

He said the main reason why so many projects in rural communities have failed either to kick start or complete on time is mainly because of lack of community cohesion.

“Donor-funded projects such as schools, clinics, water supply, rainwater tanks or sanitation are fundamental to the raising of our peoples livelihood in the rural communities therefore it is an obligation on our part to help build these projects and look after them.

“The national government and donor-agencies do not have to spoon-feed us all the time but the onus is on us to do our part,” Mr Ruku said.

He described the involvement of the Santa Ana communities in the implementation of the Owa Rain Catchment Project under which the tanks were provided as “sad and disappointing”.

“This project should have been completed and handed-over to you in October 2009 but because of your unwillingness to cooperate and lack of community support this project had tp be stalled until 2010.”

He further added that their contributions came with a price tag therefore the situation as it stands today reveals that the communities of Santa Ana have not contributed anything at all towards the setting up of these rainwater tanks.

Mr Ruku revealed that the six rainwater tanks, 36 sheets of iron-roof and other accessories that have been provided for Santa Ana communities under the Owa Rain Catchment project.

Sanitation Programme cost the national government $77,000 under its Development Budget with additional assistance provided under the Health Sector Support Programme (HSSP), an Ausaid funded programme established in the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.


By GEORGE MACKENZIE

Gov’t Communications Unit