MANY PEOPLE in developing countries lack the access to water and basic sanitation that we in developed countries often take for granted. The provision of safe and reliable water is an important issue in public health. Working in Mozambique last summer with CARE, an international organization dedicated to tackling the underlying causes of poverty, I learned firsthand how important this precious natural resource is.
I worked with Johane Moaine, a Mozambican student, to evaluate access to safe water in communities in rural Mozambique. Interacting with community members allowed us to gain insight into the challenges involved in providing sustainable hand pumps. Keeping the pumps operational and managing their use are important aspects of safe water provision. Many communities gather funds from households so that when a hand pump breaks, resources are available to purchase the parts needed to make repairs. Timely repairs are critical as the hand pump is often the only source of safe water for many kilometers. One woman told me that when her community's hand pump is broken, 'I must leave my house early in the morning while it is still dark and return home much later.' I watched as her hand pointed toward high noon indicating the long time she must walk for water.
Mozambique faces daunting challenges on a daily basis-some as basic as providing clean water for all residents. My global field experience allowed me the opportunity to work in a challenging area of public health and motivated me to continue this effort beyond my academic career.
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Charlie Darr and his CARE colleague, Isaias, visited rural communities in Mozambique. The Afridev hand pump is used in Mozambique to provide an access point to safe water.
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[Author Affiliation]
CHARLIE DARR graduated from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health in May, with a master's in public health.
