WASSA EAST DISTRICT: HAND PUMP CARETAKERS SCHOOLED

Hand pump caretakers and Area Mechanics in some selected communities in the Wassa East District have undergone, a two days training workshop at Atobiase in the Western Region. The training workshop was organized by the district water and sanitation team with sponsorship from the Wassa East Area Development programme (ADP) of World Vision Ghana.

It was attended by thirty (30) participants from fifteen (15) communities.

In an address the District Officer in charge of community development Mr. James Asmah said the training of hand pump caretakers has become necessary as a result of the many break down or non-functioning of boreholes being recorded in the district, adding that almost all the hand pump caretakers lack the technical knowledge to repair basic faults.

He further said the district has only one Area Mechanic instead of two, who conducts both minor and major repairs across the district, explaining that that has over burden the Area mechanic leading to him not been able to attend to calls made by some communities to repair their boreholes.

Mr. Asmah, however, said the training will equip hand pump caretakers to have technical knowledge and also undertake minor and daily routine maintenance. The Community Development Officer, disclosed that the training is not district wide, saying that World Vision came in to sponsor the workshop because it wanted constant supply of water to communities in its operational area.

He therefore appealed to other NGO’s and benevolent individuals to assist the Department to extend the training to all other area in district.

The resource person for the training Mr. Evans Emmanuel Aidoo, who is a former water supply engineer for community water and sanitation and CEO of Acqua Vision International, took participant through both theoretical and practical aspects of the hand pump pipes.

He said one of the cardinal duties of a hand pump pipe caretaker is to educate the community on the proper use of the pump and also conduct pump side maintenance.

Mr. Aidoo mentioned some of the common faults of the hand pump pipe and dangers associated with it as loose or mission bolts leading to the breaking of the standing plate, the hard shock absorber is worn out leading to pipe and rod disconnection and worn-out handle pipes lead to serious injuries especially with children. Others are no flow of water because of torn plunger seal, broken hook and eye rod and worn-out fulcrum plastic bearings.

He disclosed that there are about four types of hand pump pipes. This include Nira AF-85 Afridev, Vergnet and Modified India MK II practically participants were taken to two of the types mentioned thus Nira AF-85 and Afridev and were supervised to disassemble the hand pump pipes, check for damaged parts and re-assemble the pump.

Some participants expressed gratitude for the training. Mr. Kofi Amponsah Youth Chairman and member of the water and sanitation committee at Atobiase said he has been exposed to things that will help his community to enjoy regular supply of water, saying that henceforth they will not over rely on the area mechanic since they can perform such minor faults.