Date: 29/6/2013

Hub name: Shimoni

GVI volunteers refurbish Mkwiro village dispensary

Mkwiro village on Wasini Island on the South Coast of Kenya is surrounded by the warm tropical waters of the Indian
Ocean. Rich with marine resources, the island is next to the nationally well known Kisite Mpunguti Marine protected
area. Nonetheless, development in terms of health and hygiene is lacking and the islanders are often struggling, with
the highest child mortality rates in the country.
GVI has been working in this community for years carrying out marine research and community development but it
was only last year that GVI initiated a construction project ran by GVI volunteers. Previous GVI efforts ensuring clean
and safe freshwater had been successful. Now, the village sub chief and village committee, one of GVIs long term
partners, requested support in constructing sanitation facilities as well as developing healthcare infrastructure.
One area of requested our support was roof repairs to the local dispensary building which was leaking with the water,
destroying valuable stored medicines when it rained. Rainwater harvested from the iron plate covered roof contained
much rust and dirt which caused problems when using the water to treat wounds and cleaning up utensils in the
dispensary.
After two weeks of hard work, our four GVI construction volunteers; Kristyan Evele, Miguel Angel Reta Aguirre,
Alessandro Pirera and Pietro Pedersol, had removed the rusty iron sheets and rotten wood, replaced everything with
newly bought coated iron sheets and replaced all old gutters and pipes with new ones. Finally a group of community
members chipped in for some paint which made the dispensary look all clean and new.
The clean collected rainwater will be the main and usually only source of freshwater supply for use at the dispensary.
As clean fresh water is very scarce in Mkwiro, extra revenues are generated for the dispensary by selling surplus
water to community members.
When the short rains arrive in September, the medicines in the dispensary store should be safe and secured away
from the rainwater and moulds; and the three water tanks outside the dispensary would be filled with clean and safe
freshwater that can be used to within the dispensary without fears of infections from rusty iron sheets.
GVI has supported and will continue to support sustainable community development projects. Currently GVI is
monitoring rainwater harvesting and use closely. With the current rainwater harvesting and storage installations
dramatic freshwater shortages during the long dry season should be something of the past, but the population and
possibly water use might be growing in unexpected ways. Within the next year GVI is hoping to support in the
construction of a separate delivering room for pregnant women, a critical dispensary facility.
To have a look at and keep up to date on developments, follow us on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/GVIKenyaShimoni), Twitter (@GVIShimoni) or join us on our volunteer programmes
http://www.gvi.co.uk/location/shimoni.

Picture 1. GVI construction volunteers Pietro Pedersoli, Alessandro Pirera and Miguel Angel Reta Aguirre
with construction field staff Shafii Vuyaa sizing up the task of replacing a dispensary roof.

Global Vision International

Picture 2. Volunteers infront of the dispensary that has a new look.

Global Vision International