Villagers of Vusama in Nadroga can now access clean, safe water, thanks to the collaborative efforts of local social enterprise Clean Healthy Water (CHW) Fiji, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, and the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF).
During the commissioning of the Sustainable Organic Filtration System, Chief Health Inspector Luke Vonotabua acknowledged these organizations and highlighted the struggles endured by the people of Vusama. He explained that villagers were previously forced to collect water from the main road and water trucks, a significant challenge for those without vehicles, as the distance between the main road and the village is seven kilometers.
As a result of these restrictions, many villagers were forced to consume unsafe water. Mr. Vonotabua pointed out the health and sanitation issues faced due to the lack of access to clean water.
The Ministry of Health eventually declared the borehole in Vusama Village unsafe and contaminated. This decision came after numerous cases of typhoid and diarrhea from the locality were registered at the nearby Sigatoka Hospital.