Fourth Update SWM | Team Maras

Background of the Problem

Water is a basic need and according to the United Nations access to it is also a human right. It is an essential part of daily life and in maintaining good health. Safe water is utilized by humans through sanitation, food production, and hydration. Unsafe drinking water can lead to so many serious health conditions and even death. Every year many people, most especially children, suffer from dehydration and electrolyte imbalances caused by diarrheal diseases. It might be an easily preventable problem, but still many people are seriously affected by this especially those living in poverty-stricken communities where water is considered a luxury. In these areas, water sources are usually communal or public and there is no purification method used for drinking water.

In Barangay Maras, there are a couple of different water sources used by the residents and most of them are communal and are not yet confirmed to be potable. The households situated near the highway get their drinking water from a dug wells with hand pump and a few would buy from the nearby water-refilling station. Some households are connected to the piped spring water system established by the Local Officials but the water is rationed and still limited. Along the highway, an average of 25-30 households share 1 water source. In the areas far from the main road, drinking water is taken from an open dug well or a protected spring. Purok Waling-Waling is the only purok that has no water source of its own and people would walk in distances even as far as 200 meters through dense grasslands and narrow roads on top of cliffs just to get water. In terms of water storage and purification, the residents utilize covered containers, which most of them clean regularly, but not all purify their drinking water.

Solution

To manage these problems, approaches must be focused on changing the negative practices of the community, mobilize the people, and utilize available resources to improve the situation of the water sources.

Sustainability

Community involvement is the best way to ascertain sustainability of the programs that will be implemented. All throughout the process, from the identification of the problem up to the evaluation of results, the people must be actively involved to instill the sense of ownership and cooperation in them. The local leaders must also be empowered so that they will be motivated to guide the people effectively and provide independent decisions in managing the projects.

swm update

September 2021 IMPLEMENTATION

Everything but the Coronavirus slowed down since the start of the pandemic last 2019. The way of life took a turn for the worse and many people struggled, especially those that live in countries with poor economies and disorganized health systems. Aside from the burden of disease itself, most people stopped going to work, face-to-face learning stopped, and travelling from one place to another was limited by quarantine restrictions. Despite this, health sectors worldwide, along with other departments and organizations, had been working hand-in-hand to find ways to control the virus, manage other aspects of health, and implement the “new normal” set-up.

In barangay Maras, the implementation of Community Health Plans was faced with so many challenges during the COVID-19 health crisis. The researchers were forced to facilitate the conduct of activities in Zamboanga City. Phone calls and messages via mobile network or internet have been the main medium of communication to the residents in the barangay.

For the Solid Waste Management Program, the NDP-Nurse and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) were the main contact persons for the conduct of activities and evaluation. The barangay’s clean-up drive still continued every 22nd day of the month. The school activities were also started including the module distribution and the online school projects. The story of the “Basura Monster”, which highlighted the importance of proper waste disposal, was integrated into the modules of the Grades 3 and 4 students of the barangay. Projects for the students such as the “Innovation Art Fair” for Grades 5 and 6, and “Trashy Fashion Show” for the Junior High School were also started to encourage students to observe the 3 Rs of SWM. Last August 29-30 the different school heads were contacted to coordinate the activities, and with their approval the researchers prepared the modules plus mechanics and was sent to the schools via bus with assistance from the BHWs. The distribution of modules and the dissemination of information about the projects/contests were done during the 4th week of September. The barangay captain was also called last September 16 for updates about the “WASTE” Garden location and the vermicomposting shed status. In addition to vermicomposting, the researchers also reached out to the Department of Agriculture, for inquiry on the worms and other materials needed for the shed, and to the Farmers Association, for the possibility of a seminar in future activities.

The lack of a good network connection made the communication process of the said programs very difficult. Some of the contact persons were not reachable and others were not able to receive messages. The prioritization of COVID-related programs also pushed back the urgency of the implementation of SWM activities. The restrictions caused by the virus also delayed the program further. For instance, the teachers were scheduled to go to school only 2-3 time a week and some of them were under quarantine. Gatherings and face-to-face lectures for health education were also limited. The nurse and BHWs were also busy with other BHS and barangay activities.

However, amidst all the challenges encountered by the team, most of the activities were still successfully and safely done thanks to the tireless efforts of the barangay council and health workers, and the willingness of the residents cooperate for their community. This only give more truth to the saying that people working together in a strong community with a shared goal and a common purpose can make the impossible possible.

September 2021 Accomplishments:

Distributed modules and mechanics to two (2) public elementary schools and one (1) high school in the barangay
Continued with the monthly Clean-up Drive
Coordinated with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Farmers Association for the Vermicomposting project
Recycling videos and garden layout options for the WASTE Park were sent to the barangay secretary

Upcoming Activities:

Following the protocols of social distancing, wearing of face masks, disinfection, and limiting movement to only essentials in the context of COVID-19 New Normal Setting, the following upcoming activities are as follows:
- Collection of modules and recording and consolidation of scores
- Judging of entries and awarding of winners for the Innovation Art Fair and Trashy Fashion Show
- Resumption of the SWM Evaluation
- Conduct a seminar on vermicomposting and distribute IEC materials
- Creation of WASTE Park