The well repair and maintenance training for thirty villages with an average population of 250 people per community, was executed with the aim of ensuring that water supply is maintained. After the training of the pump technicians, a total 10 were repaire

Narrative

Good quality and sufficient of water is very essential for life. A good number of Sierra Leoneans especially those in the rural communities are without access to quality water supply and so do not have access to safe drinking water. The water quality in improved water supply systems often is also affected from unreliable operations, poor hygiene practices and lack of maintenance. The water is subjected to secondary contamination during collection, transportation, storage and usage. The poor public health condition in developing countries like Sierra Leone can abruptly lead to the dramatic spread of epidemics. Cholera for example remains a risk for such epidemic outbreaks.

Adequate water treatment methods and avoidance of secondary contamination of drinking water, combined with hygiene promotion, are required to prevent the population that are with or without access to safer drinking water. This will minimize the number of illness and death rate among our population. Washing hands with soap and clean water is a simple act that can reduce diarrhoeal and many other disease transmissions. Promotion of household water-treatment methods should therefore always be combined with hygiene training

Therefore, the water and sanitation Department of the Safer Future Youth Development Project is relentlessly engaged in the promotion of Technical knowledge in Pump Installations, Repairs and Maintenance in the rural communities. It also promotes Hygiene education, Sanitation and other household water treatments technology.
An assessment survey, to select targeted beneficiary communities, was conducted.

1.1 Survey
A random survey was conducted in a total of 100(hundred) communities in both the Lokomasama, Masimera and Koya chiefdoms in Port Loko District in September 2008.
Trained and qualified members of our staff used well-designed Survey forms to collect data on the health status, Water Source, Water Consumption and treatment practices, Health Habits and Hygienic behaviour from the different communities.
The team met with Headmen/Chiefs, heads of schools, medical personnel in charge of community Health Centres and villagers to discuss issues concerning the water and hygiene situation and health condition of their communities.

1.2 Training Workshops
Three workshops were organized – One: to train the four (4) selected persons for Pump Installation, Repairs and Maintenance for the Chiefdom, Two: Pump Caretakers Training for 30 selection communities and Three: Refreshers’ Training for Pump Installation, Repairs and Maintenance Technicians.

-Pump Installation, Repairs and Maintenance Training
After thorough consultative meetings with the Paramount Chiefs and their local Authorities in the various chiefdoms, the Masimera chiefdom was selected out of the three chiefdoms (Koya, Lokomasama and Masimera). This was because other NGOs were doing same implementing the same kind of project at that particular period. To avoid duplication of effort, the project was relocated to Masimera Chiefdom in Port Loko District.
The chiefdom authorities for the training of Pump Installation, Repairs and Maintenance Technicians selected Four (4) young men. The participants’ training was done in Royiben a Community that was selected and agreed upon by all.
The training was in both theory and practical. Two days was used for the theoretical training while, four day was used to gain practical knowledge. During the practical trainings, a total of three (3) pump that were not in good working order were repaired and maintenance and one (1) Pump Installation was done
The practical training was done in three (3) different communities

1. Ahmadiyya Primary School - Konta line
Population: 320
GPS Location: N= 08°, 28’. 272”
W=012°, 32’. 495”

2. Royema Bana Village
Population: 1,700
No of Houses: 150
GPS Location: N=08°, 31’. 568”
W=012°, 33’. 530”

3. Magbengbeh Village
Population: 510
No of Houses: 59
GPS Location: N=08°, 33’. 027”
W=012°, 34’. 491”

-Pump Caretakers Training
From the 30 selected communities, trained technician’s assisted local authorities in each of the community in the selection of two (2) representatives for the Pump Caretakers Training for the selected communities.
Since most of the other communities in the Masimera Chiefdom have no wells, two communities in the Lokomasama Chiefdom in the same District wren selected to benefit from the Pump Caretakers Training. They have well with pumps in their community Health Centres. Therefore, two persons from each of the communities were selected and trained as pump caretakers together with those in the Masimera chiefdom. These communities are Patifu and Mapla.
After the pump installation, repairs and maintenance technician training, the training team was divided in two groups (group A and B). Each group trained 15 communities.

GROUP A
Moray Hengoi - Group Leader (Head of WATSAN Department & Trainer - SFYDP)
Olufemi Williams - Trainer (SFYDP)
Ibrahim Bangura - Trained Pump Technician (From Masemira Town)
Foday Kamara - Trained Pump Technician (From Rokolon Village)

Group B
Alhassan Nonkor Kallon - Group Leader (Pump Technician - SFYDP)
Amadu D. C. Bangura - Trainer (SFYDP)
Ibrahim Kanu - Trained Pump Technician (From Matoku Village)
Osman Kargbo - Trained Pump Technician (From Royeben Village)

Below, is an overview of target communities/Schools, Population and their GPS Locations for Pump Technician and Pump Caretakers training in the Masimera Chiefdom and Lokomasama chiefdom in the Port Loko District

1. Royiben Village
Population: 307
GPS Location: N= 8°, 30’. 275
W= 12°, 25.796

2. Rokatick – Health Centre
GPS Location: N= 8°, 35.623
W= 12°, 25.112

3. Rotifunk Village
Population: 144
GPS Location: N= 8°, 34.537
W= 12°, 25.125

4. Makalben Line
Population: 250
GPS Location: N= 8°, 31.210
W= 12°, 26.462

5. Matoku Primary School
Population: 260
GPS Location: N= 8°, 35.430
W= 12°, 26.108

6. Matoku Village
Population: 215
GPS Location: N= 8°, 35.638
W= 12°, 26.104

7. Rofutha Village
Population: 220
GPS Location: N= 8°, 37.26
W= 12°, 28.58

8. Madick Vilage
Population: 92
GPS Location: N= 8°. 37.346
W= 12°, 27.684

9. Masimera Health Centre
GPS Location: N= 8°, 38.663
W= 12°, 26.991

10. Masimera Town
Population: 1,150
GPS Location: N= 8°, 38.748
W= 12°, 27.041

11. Sarakoh Village
Population: 202
GPS Location: N= 8°, 38.154
W= 12°, 26.295

12. Mayola-Tata Village
Population: 301
GPS Location: N= 8°, 37.289
W= 12°, 24.883

13. Madinbor Village
Population: 240
GPS Location: N= 8°, 36.840
W= 12°, 23.511

14. Tainicom – Masaka Village
Population: 185
GPS Location: N= 8°, 35.206
W= 12°, 20.685

15 Mayola–Lala–Ton Village
Population: 421
GPS Location: N= 8°, 34.165
W= 12°, 18.705

16. Konta Line – Lower Masimera Town
Population: 1,100
GPS Location: N= 8°, 28.449
W= 12°, 32.629

17. Konta Line – Health Centre
GPS Location: N= 8°, 29.176
W= 12°. 32.775

18 Mamaliki Town
Population: 1,153
GPS Location: N= 8°, 29.892
W= 12° 35.963

19. Mamaliki Health Centre
GPS Location: N= 8°, 29.816
W= 12°, 35.904

20. Mathaineh Village
Population: 975
GPS Location: N= 8°, 32.380
W= 12° 35.981

21. Konta Kuma Village (I)
Population: 1,200
GPS Location: N= 8°, 28.279
W= 12°, 31.597

22. Konta Kuma Village (II)
Population: 500
GPS Location: N= 8°, 29.354
W= 12°, 31.957

23. Royama Village
Population: 1,000
GPS Location: N= 8°, 31.980
W= 12°, 33.884

24. Magbemgbeh Village
Population: 510
GPS Location: N= 8°, 33.044
W= 12°, 34.814

25. Rokolon Village
Population: 350
GPS Location: N= 8°, 29.376
W= 12°, 35.875

26. Ahmadiyya Primary School – Konta Line
Population: 320
GPS Location: N= 8°, 28.272
W= 12°, 32.495

27. Royema Bana Village
Population: 1,700
GPS Location: N= 8°, 31.568
W= 12°, 33.530

28. Konta Line - Market
Population: 150
GPS Location: N= 8°, 28.272
W= 12°, 32.415

29 Patifu Junction
Population: 615
GPS location: N=080 41’ 42.8”
W=13° 0.6” 28.7”

30 Mapla
Population: 300
GPS location: N=080 45’ 01.2”
W=13° 02’ 13.3”

-Refreshers’ Training for Pump Installation, Repairs and Maintenance Technicians
After a period of three months, a follow up visit was made and a meeting was scheduled to determined a date for the refreshers’ training
The Safer Future Youth Development Project WATSAN team attended the meeting; pump installation repairs/maintenance technicians and representatives from the local authorities in the district.
In the meeting, it was agreed that the refresher training be scheduled for the last two days in the month of February 2009.
On the 27th and 28th of February, 2009, the refresher training was conducted and most of the major stakeholders (local chiefs, representatives of the paramount chief and other district authorities) were present.
Before the commencement of the training, the trained participants in pump installation, repairs/maintenance shared experience gained during their work experience in the field.
It was reported that after their training, a total of fourteen pumps were repaired. Ten well with old pumps were repaired and four new pumps were replaced in four wells whose pumps were destroyed or stolen during the war.
Out of the thirty pumps available in the 373 villages in the chiefdom, a total of eighteen (18) pumps are now in good working order. The balance of twelve (12) pumps whose pumps were stolen during the war, need to be replaced while a total of three hundred and forty-three villages need improved wells for the supply of clean water.
Participants were very much appreciative and very thankful for such a great gesture. They promised that what they have learnt would be put into practice. Total of – additional pumps were also repaired and are in proper working order.