Our WATA solution was introduced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following a cholera epidemic. The introduction of WATA technology is being accompanied by hygiene awareness campaigns, home education, chlorine promotion by authorised agents, technical training and income generation through local chlorine production.
With cholera endemic in the areas around Goma and Kalemie, Antenna decided to take action to promote household water treatment.
The Mama Uzima programme is run by groups of women trained by Antenna in the use of WATA devices and in using chlorine to treat drinking water. The chlorine produced by the Uzima teams is sold in 250 ml flasks. It is also available at points of use, where it is injected directly into the 20-litre tanks using 5ml syringes.
The “Mamas” also play the role of health educators. They go door-to-door, covering disease prevention and promoting water chlorination. They also organise local meetings and broadcast messages on local radio.
In the DRC, several organisations and their local partners have obtained WATA equipment and are now engaged in the production and distribution of chlorine. With support from UNICEF, Antenna and Solidarités International are conducting a study to locate all WATA devices, validate the competences of the organisations involved and verify the chlorine distribution methods that they are using (chlorination agents, distribution of flasks, chlorination of the water supply network).
The aim is to establish a WATASOL label, which will ensure the quality of programmes and the product supply. The new label will also validate the credentials of the organisations involved.
We hope to go for the best option for a decentralised production, its stabilisation and chlorine distribution, so as to ensure the local take-over by trained structures.
The ICRC has 20 WATA devices, mainly used for disinfection in the Kinshasa urban area. It is pursuing a project to improve hygiene conditions in the city’s prisons, where 180 litres of chlorine are supplied every week for the use of around 6,000 inmates.
Oxfam produces 30 litres of chlorine per week in Lubiriha in the Mutwanga health district, which is enough to treat the water used by 2,500 families.