Abuja, 11 December, 2020 / 5:05 pm (ACI Africa).
Members of the Religious Institute of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in Nigeria have facilitated access to safe drinking water to natives of some five communities in Africa’s most populous nation the project dubbed “Clean Water Initiative.”
Realized through a partnership with Salesian Missions, the U.S.-based development arm of SDB, the initiative has involved the sinking of boreholes that will provide clean water to communities in Southeastern Nigeria including Alaenyi, Umuaju, Bagbe, Nsasak Afaha and Neke.
In a report shared with ACI Africa, Wednesday, December 9, the leadership of the Catholic agency says, “Due to geographic conditions, there is very little potable water in this region and people—mostly women and children—are forced to travel long distances to access clean water for their daily needs or rely on rain and river water, which can sometimes be contaminated.”
The new boreholes will provide clean water, reduce outbreaks of waterborne diseases and eliminate the need for traveling hours each day in search of water, officials of the New York-based agency say in the report dated December 8.
“Poor residents of these communities, students, and women and children will benefit from these boreholes,” the officials of Salesian Missions say, and add, “Children can remain in school instead of searching for water. Women no longer have to travel long distances, often risking their lives just to find a water source.”
