Geography

WA=WaterAid RA=Rural Aid

Access to water & sanitation low, particularly rural areas. 50% rural population access to clean water.

Main sources in rural: small ponds & unprotected wells, both easily polluted, causing disease & ill-health. Oxfam, WA & RA providing hand dug wells with pumps & constructing ventilated pit latrines.

Nyama Akparibo, 28yrs lives in Asamponbisi Village, Eastern Ghana. WA & RA helped build well in village. 'I lived here for 15yrs. I have 3 children, 10, 8 & 6yrs. The water pump was put in 3yrs ago. Our community helped the "water people" (RA) build it. The men dug and we women collected sand & stones, helped clear away the sand when the well was dug & helped carry mortar for construction. We needed a well because we used to drink bad water & get sick, especially the children. We got diarrhoea & stomach pains & felt very weak. We used to be so weak we couldn't work. Our main work here is weaving, but when you have children you are too weak to sit & weak.'

'I used to collect water from a stream. Animals used to drink from there too and the water was not very clear. When I had my 1st baby I had to use water from the stream and the baby and I were always sick. Now my children no longer get diarrhoea & we have enough water to bath our children before they go to school, prepare food for them, wash and do our chores. It used to be time consuming to collect water at the stream as others were already there and yuo had to queue while they filled their pots before you could collect your own. Now we just come to the pump and there is always plenty of water.'