By Prince J Musa in Kenema
One of the development partners of the country, World Hope International in collaboration with SEND Sierra Leone and technical support from Engineers without Borders, Denmark has conducted a seven-day intensive training for hand pump Technicians in the sixteen Chiefdoms of Kenema District.
The training which commenced at the Pastoral Centre, Kenema on the 17th and ended on the 21st of April 2023 was geared towards citizens’ climate change-driven management project.
The WASH Engineer of World Hope International, Hassan Bobor Kamara said the project looks at how water, sanitation, and infrastructure in communities have been affected due to climate change.
He said they realized that the WASH infrastructure has been affected by climate change and the lack of capacity to maintain the pump facilities in those communities.
He reiterated that the pump technicians from various chiefdoms that have been trained will be handed over to Kenema District Council who in turn will be charged with the responsibility to attend to pumps in case of any challenges.
He said that the council will in turn monitor their activities based on their performance.
“We want to capacitate their technical skills on pump maintenance in their communities,’’ he said.
Engineer Kamara emphasized that the training has an entrepreneurship style which is operated by the technicians that will help them to do installation and maintenance. He pointed out that the technicians were recommended by the Paramount Chiefs and former Councilors.
He further stated that all their operations will be guided and directed by the water directorate and the local council. He said that the council will take over the project due to the fact that there is a WASH coordination engagement between partners and the council for its sustainability.
The Environmental and Social Protection Officer in Kenema District, Ibrahim Bockarie, referred to the training of pump technicians as significant and timely adding that the Kenema district council embraces the intervention of the World Hope and SEND Sierra Leone.
He told the trainees to be focused so that they will get enough knowledge that will enhance them do their work in their various chiefdoms, adding that, the council will certify them upon evaluating their performance in service delivery to the community.
Bockarie assured that the council will put the necessary measures in place in making sure that the technicians continue to do diligent work for the people and that the council together with the water directorate will provide the monitoring and supervision roles for the enhancement of the project.
He encouraged the participants to grab the opportunity provided them so that most of the technical challenges on the pumps affecting the availability of water in the community will be a thing of the past.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (24/04/23)
