Wash kits evaluation on Maiana Island
Kawaran Maiana irouia kaain ana tiim te ChildFund I aon karekean aia nonori kaain te aba man mwiin kabutakin ana buoka UNICEF (WASH kits) n te ririki ae nako.
While locals are very grateful for the kits, they told us about their concerns about coping in emergencies and the impact the current drought is having on the supply of fresh water.
A team from ChildFund Kiribati (CFK) recently spent several days on Maiana, an atoll south of Tarawa, which has been affected by drought and is at risk of sea level rise which can threaten infrastructure, agriculture and water supplies.
CFK’s goal was to get feedback from locals about the UNICEF WASH kits which were distributed last year and to deliver Flyers on preserving water and storage management to all household on the island. Each kit contains a 10-litre collapsible water container, cotton cloth, a child’s potty, soap, a torch, laundry detergent, a whistle, a 14-liter bucket with lid and female sanitary products that households can use in response to drought.
Nick and Waga from Unicef joining CFK team in having a maroro with Maiana Vice Major and Clerk.
Focus groups were held, and household visits were conducted to get feedback about how helpful the kits have been. Nick and Waga from UNICEF were part of the visit to Maiana to support the CFK team in the evaluation.
Males focus group discussion conducted by CFK team at Aobike village on Maiana
Locals are very grateful for the kits, with several items being particularly useful. They appreciated the water containers, buckets and both disposable and reuseable menstrual pads.
Some said the soap was very helpful as some water supplies are brackish due to the drought. They can use this soap with the brackish water and it helps children who have itchy skin.
The CFK team also asked what other items they would prefer in the WASH kits. It was clear there are major concerns about coping in emergencies and the impact the current drought is having on the supply of fresh water.
Some responses were that radios would help them to stay updated with news, especially during the drought, or if there’s a disaster. About 40% of people on the island don’t have mobile phones and they said these would help them to stay in touch with families in case of emergencies.
Residents asked UNICEF if they could also donate water storage tanks, desalination plants and larger water containers, as the 10 litre containers in the kits are not big enough for larger households.
Other suggestions for the kits included prescription glasses and battery-powered torches. There is a self-powered torch which must be constantly wound up and it’s not so easy to do this, if for example, you’re out fishing at night.