Intervention in the District of Bikita
Bikita District Health Executive (DHE) Office Block
Impact of Cyclone Idai
Cyclone Idai destroyed the previous Bikita DHE offices leaving them with leaking roofs and broken wooden walls. Non-Cyclone adapted building codes were adopted in the construction of the DHE Offices as wood was used. The wooden offices were highly susceptible to the devastating effects of the Cyclone. The collapse of the wooden offices resulted in the Ministry of Health and Child Care loosing vital data, statistics and information that was needed in the response to Cyclone Idai. The entire building was thus condemned by the Bikita Rural District Council as inhabitable. Due to lack of office space, a total of 14 staff members could not efficiently dispatch their duties of coordination at the height of Cyclone Idai. This then warranted the need to intervene and construct new offices for the Bikita DHE.
BCI Intervention
The BCI project constructed an office block for the Bikita DHE comprising of 6 offices, a boardroom, kitchenette and indoor toilets. The Build Back Better (BBB) concept was utilized in which construction materials were carefully selected and inspected to ensure they withstand future similar disasters. The concrete mixtures used were also stronger to guarantee wall strength. Other succeeding Cyclones including Cyclone Chalane, Eloise and Ana did not affect this infrastructure which can be attributed to the BBB approach incorporated.
Impact of BCI Intervention
Currently 10 Bikita DHE staff have occupied the new office block. The new offices have provided a safe working environment for the DHE staff and has become a suitable storage facility for all the district health information. The new office block has improved ventilation and space for the DHE staff as they are no longer crowded as before. This also complies with the Covid19 regulations of ensuring social distancing prevails in the workplace. Previously there were no modern flash toilets which were included in the new office block. This positively contributes to good sanitation within the premises. The kitchenette which was included also provides an adequate room for staff members to heat up and prepare their teas and lunches, a scenario which was not existent before. Overall, the workplace environment and working conditions have significantly improved due to the new Bikita DHE office block.
Nerumedzo Primary School – Ward 15
Impact of Cyclone Idai
Nerumedzo Primary school had an aging infrastructure that was already prone to be affected by any Climatic hazard. The school structures were built in the 1960s without adopting standard building codes but with the focus of having a decent learning environment. Cyclone Idai left the school with 3 massively cracked classroom blocks that provided a learning environment to 143 students. Post Cyclone Idai, Bikita Rural District Council, and the Public Works Department condemned the use of these classrooms. The school was stranded as to where to house the students and continue with lessons as the classrooms were deemed unsafe and not a conducive learning environment. Efforts to resolve the situation were fruitless hence students still learned in these dangerous blocks. Cyclone Idai also destroyed 7 latrines at the school resulting in an increase in the pupil to squat hole ratio from 1:30 to 1:91.
BCI Intervention
At Nerumedzo Primary School, the BCI project constructed two classroom blocks each with two classrooms (4 classrooms) to replace the 3 classrooms destroyed by Cyclone Idai. The project constructed two latrine blocks with 10 squat holes (5 for boys and 5 for girls). Adopting the United Nations 2030 transformative promise of ‘leaving no one behind” in development, two disability friendly squat holes were incorporated in the latrine blocks. The school’s water system was rehabilitated with focus on the bush pump. During all the construction, the local community through the School Development Committee provided labour and locally available resources like sand and water.
The build back better concept was also used in construction as cement molded bricks were preferred over the usual rural farm bricks which have less durability. Some steel reinforcements were also made in the foundation due to the loose soil type in this region. The school authorities emphasized the strength of the new infrastructure attested by their ability to withstand the succeeding Cyclones Chalane, Eloise, Batsirai and Ana.
Impact of BCI Intervention
A total number of 175 pupils have now occupied the new classroom blocks and the teachers emphasize that a complete mindset shift is being observed among the students as they are now showing a positive attitude towards school attributed to the new school infrastructure. These 175 pupils are also the ones utilizing the newly constructed latrines taking the school’s pupil to squat hole ratio to 1:30 from the previous 1:91. This is however still higher than the UNICEF recommended 1:20 ratio. Meanwhile, a total of 455 pupils, 12 teachers and 20 households are benefiting from the rehabilitated school borehole at Nerumedzo Primary School. This borehole has consequently improved access to clean and safe drinking portable water. Water quality testing was conducted and revealed the water is free from any bacteria or coliforms. The SDC committee at this school has become more vibrant since the introduction of this project and their synergy with the surrounding community has visibly improved. In a way, the BCI project has improved community social cohesion and togetherness as they are now more cognizant of the importance of contributing to community development.
Chigumisirwa Piped Water Scheme
Impact of Cyclone Idai
When Cyclone Idai struck, this piped water scheme was significantly damaged leaving the beneficiary schools and communities with no access to clean and safe drinking water. The piped scheme supported a total of 2369 pupils from 3 schools, 12 staff members at the clinic and 3607 community members at community taps. This piped water scheme used to be powered by a diesel Lister engine. During this time, the community had been failing to raise funds for the diesel required to power the Lister engine. Ensuring that the beneficiaries get a reliable solar powered water source then became a priority. During the period when the piped water scheme was not functional, some of the community members had resorted to using unsafe water sources like rivers which exposed them to diseases like diarrhea, which is now a thing of the past.
BCI Intervention
The BCI project conducted the rehabilitation of the piped water scheme by installing solar panels, an invertor, a new water pump, new pipes and new community taps. Solar mechanization of this piped water scheme enabled it to become a climate smart water system consequently improving its longevity. Pump maintenance training was done practically as the contractor worked with the pump minder and the water point committees during installation. This has ensured sustainability of the system post installation.
Impact of BCI Intervention
The Chigumisirwa Piped Water Scheme currently serves 3 schools (Chigumisirwa Primary, Boora Primary & Masekayi Secondary Schools), a local clinic (Ruponeso Clinic), a business center and the surrounding communities covering 2 wards. The total number of beneficiaries includes 3607 households, 2369 pupils and 51 teachers. These beneficiaries now have access to clean and safe drinking water for 6 out of 7 days a week which is sufficient to meet their water needs. The time taken and distances travelled to fetch water have been considerably reduced within the beneficiary communities. This then implies that they now have more time at their disposal to focus on other productive activities. The piped water scheme water point management committee was resuscitated and trained to be able to sustainably manage the piped water scheme and maintain it in the long run.