WATERAID UK, in collaboration with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) in Manyara Region, has launched a pilot project in Hanang’ District to address water scarcity, inadequate sanitation, and environmental challenges.

The initiative aims to provide safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities to 96 villages in the district, benefiting a population of 368,000.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, WaterAid Tanzania Project Manager, Beda Levira, shared details about the initiative, stating that it is expected to be completed by August this year.

“WaterAid’s pilot project in Hanang’ will tackle challenges related to clean water, sanitation, and environmental cleanliness, directly benefiting residents in 33 wards across the district,” said Levira. “Our goal is to ensure the community fully benefits from the project, ultimately eliminating waterborne diseases caused by poor sanitation and contaminated water sources.”

According to the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS-MIS) and the Malaria Indicator Survey, 18.1 percent of households in Tanzania lack adequate sanitation facilities, with 9.7 percent of the population still practicing open defecation.

Barnabas Taligunga, Water Engineer at RUWASA’s, emphasized that the project will strengthen water infrastructure from its sources to end-users, reducing the spread of waterborne diseases.

“This pilot project is currently being implemented in Hanang’ and other districts will have the opportunity to learn from its success,” he said.

Dr Andrew Method, Manyara Regional Medical Officer, urged leaders in Hanang’ to fully support the project to ensure its successful implementation and serve as a model for other districts.

Amaka Godfrey, Director of International Programmes and Partnerships at WaterAid, commended community leaders for their commitment to the initiative and expressed the organization’s dedication to ensuring its success.

“The leaders’ proactive approach in engaging the entire community is crucial,” said Amaka. “It will help ensure the project delivers timely and lasting benefits to as many people as possible.”

Dr Cyril Komba, Dean of Faculty of Co-operatives and Community Development at Moshi Co-operative University (MoCU), highlighted the often-overlooked importance of sanitation and clean water services in economic development.

“Poor sanitation means people resort to defecating in informal areas such as bushes and farms, leading to significant health risks,” Dr Komba explained. “This contributes to the spread of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, intestinal worms, and skin infections,” he said.

The project represents a significant step in improving public health, environmental sustainability, and economic development in Hanang’ District, with the potential to be replicated in other regions across the country.