Mohamed Kabia, councillor of ward 418, has recently supported Casell Farm, a community in Kissy in the east of Freetown with a borehole with solar pumping system and storage tank through Oxfam.
Councillor Kabia told residents of the community that, the aim of constructing the borehole, and storage tank is to support the community and its residents to easily access water. He said that the community had been deprived of water for over decades.
He said children who go out to fetch water encounter physical assaults and accidents mostly at night, adding that this causes students to miss classes because they are late for school.
“My aim is to see that, the community is developed. I promised to work in the interest of the community together with its residents,” he said.
Mariama Dumbuya, a resident of the community, said that the borehole is really a blessing to the community, insisting that before now they had instances where teenagers who had been impregnated when they go out in search of water. She also complained that children who go out to fetch water had also been assaulted in the past.
“Since the borehole was brought to this community we are not having pregnant cases as frequent as we had before. We can easily access water at any time. We are not the only community benefiting from it, but other communities are also benefiting.”
Abdul Turay, the Chairman of the solar borehole explained that, it has really changed their story in the Community, adding that through the solar energy generated by the electricity system powering the borehole, they have connected solar bulbs erected on lamp poles along the streets in the community and they were also able to construct and rehabilitate bridges that were restricting the movement of people and vehicles in the community.
“We supply water to mosques and churches in the community on a daily basis. We give water to elderly people and lactating mothers for one week after giving birth,” he said.
“We usually take Le1000 for four jerry cans of water. We use the money to maintenance the solar whenever need arises and also develop the community,” he concluded.
By Ibrahim S.Bangura
04/02/2021. ISSUE NO: 7995