Water & Wells

Water is a significant and ongoing problem for much of Tabora Region, and climate change is making it worse. Crop yields and people's health are both affected.

A reliable supply of good quality water is essential for people's health and economic wellbeing. It is a major focus of FUM's work in Tanzania.

Our long term aim is to make this provision for all 18 of FUM's sites (15 clinics and 3 FDCs) in Tabora Region. But with a current cost of £10,000 - £12,000 per site raising the necessary funds will be a considerable challenge.

In developed countries we think nothing of turning on a tap for an apparently endless supply of high quality water.

People in rural Tanzania have no such luxury. A significant part of each day can be spent collecting water, often of poor quality, for cooking, washing and for small livestock to drink. An hour's walk each way is not uncommon.

Three methods of collecting water are possible and FUM uses all of them, depending on the local situation and funds available.

Poor quality drinking water is a major cause of diarrhoea, the second most common ailment after malaria, and the cause of death of an estimated 30,000 children each year in Tanzania.