I have never taken any of my kids to health center ever since this water source is in place

By Aklilu Kassaye

Momina, 52, lives in Shasheme District of Agugota Village, where potable water problem used to be one of the worst in the district. Agugota villagers had to walk about three hours or so to fetch clean water. People who did not have pack animals had to carry a jerry can of water on their back and walk five to seven kilometers every day to serve their daily water needs. Some others were fetching from a nearby river sharing it with domestic and wild animals. They were exposed to various deadly water borne diseases. Momina was fetching water from her nearby river sharing it with animals. Due to this, her children were infected to water borne diseases. "Of the seven children I have, three of them were severely sick because of water borne diseases very often. They were sick of diarrhea, vomiting and continues stomachache. I had to get them to hospital now and then and spent a lot of my money and time. One of my children was rescued from the edge of death," Momina sadly recalls. However, after getting awareness on how much river water was affecting her children health, she started to fetch from Shashemene Town travelling some three or more hours a day and carrying a jerry can of water on her back. She says, "Fetching water from Shashemene Town was a good point for it kept my children healthy, but it was a tiresome work to travel 3 hours or more carrying a jerry can of water on my back." More than 20,000 residents of Agugota kebele and adjacent villagers were going through the same sort of potable water problem. In response to this, World Vision Ethiopia drilled two deep wells for Agugota kebele and adjacent community. It constructed 7 water points and one reservoir. Now more than twenty thousand people are benefiting from this water sources. Momina is now very happy. “I have never taken any of my kids to health center ever since this water source is in place. They are very well," happily explains Momina. "I no longer have to travel three or more hours in search of potable water. The water source is by my village. It takes me few minutes to fetch. I am using my time properly and taking care of my children," happily testifies Momina.