DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) has imported a workshop from Germany for drilling artesian wells for the poor and disadvantaged who lack drinking water in Niger at a cost of QR1.5m.
After the workshop arrived, a course was held to teach staff its uses, with the involvement of a German engineer.
A team of eight people has been allocated to work in the workshop.
During training, the team drilled two bores to ensure the safety and efficiency of the equipment for drilling in different geological layers and to gain experience.
Many people in Niger suffer due to a lack of potable water, particularly in rural areas, where they are constantly thirsty. Residents are forced to drink stagnant and polluted water from rivers and swamps, which lead to diseases and high numbers of deaths annually, especially among children under five, the elderly and pregnant women.
To contribute to ending the chronic crisis, QC has implemented projects over the past few years, including the creation of water points. However, those in charge of the projects have experienced difficulties in implementation as the work is often delayed with workers not meeting their obligations on time. This sometimes increases costs and it was on this basis QC decided to provide a full workshop for drilling artesian wells to save time and money.
The workshop will enable QC to dig many wells at lower costs which will raise the number of water projects.
Last year, QC established over 45 wells, including surface and artesian wells, some of which included hand pumps, some work with electricity and some by solar power, at a cost of QR2.1m for the benefit of 35,000 people.
QC has excavators in Somalia, Niger, Burkina Faso and Sudan, with many wells being drilled by these rigs to ensure safe drinking water for people.
Since the opening of its office in Niger, 264 wells have been drilled at a cost of over QR9m, benefiting around 318,170 people.
QC has also established health units in Niger at a cost of QR1.073m, benefiting over 15,000 people in different regions.
Last year, It established eight health units ranging from 100sqm to 150sqm based on the regions, population and their needs. Five were fully equipped, while the rest partly equipped. This was in addition to 18 dispensaries.
Over 13,800 people benefited from these services, taking the total number of beneficiaries to around 30,000.
The Peninsula
