Ende Island Ends Battle for Potable Water
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Government
Expanse of blue ocean surrounding Ende is Providing the 8,200 Inhabitants with Both Protection and Their Livelihoods
This exoticism, though, is an irony. How can an island with such an abundance of water still narrate a story about mothers who have to bring their own supply of water from home as they prepare to give birth at a far away subdistrict health center?
Feasible and sustainable access to safe drinking water, along with basic sanitation remains a major scourge for the people of Ende Island, a one-hour boat ride away from the south of Flores.
The vast waters surrounding the island are apparently not supported by the any of the infrastructure needed to make it potable.
Exacerbating the issue, is the residents' lack of awareness of hygiene as they still treat the ocean like one large toilet in their backyards. This practice has turned the island into a breeding ground for diseases, such as diarrhea.
However, help is coming to the island, whose residents live with only 12 hours of electricity a day.
On a clear afternoon on Tuesday, the Coca Cola Foundation Indonesia handed over clean water and sanitation facilities and equipment, such as desalinators and water filters, during a ceremony.
"We do not intent to just hand over the equipment, which could be purchased with money. Consciousness and awareness are more important," said Titi Sadarini, CCFI corporate affairs director.
According to Titi, the CCFI's larger aim is to change the mindset of Ende's people regarding the importance of maintaining a clean source of water.
Desalinators are used to remove salt and other minerals from seawater to produce water suitable for human consumption. The solution is then turned into drinking water with filters.
In his speech, Ende Island district head Sahab thanked the efforts of CCFI.
"This is a milestone in the history of the Ende island. Hopefully, this is not just a mere ceremony, but also a moment of clarity for the people of Ende. Thanks to CCFI, more and more travelers will be looking to Ende in the future," Sahab said.
According to the district head, the island's beaches were once referred to as the country's largest latrines, thanks to residents who used the white, sandy shores to relieve themselves.
After issuing a regulation banning the practice — which includes punishing offenders by forcing them to pick up their own waste with their bare hands — and launching intensive awareness campaigns with the held of CCFI, Sahab is proud to say that Ende's beaches are now clean.
Jason, a student from Nurul Imah Elementary School, is one of the island's 63 sanitation ambassadors. The fifth-grader could barely contain his enthusiasm when he was asked to demonstrate how Ende's new supply of water filters work. In his excitement, the boy gulped down the processed water without pausing.
Campaigns raising awareness on the importance of medical care has also made a notable impact on the island community. According to Sri Putrinesia, a young doctor from the government-sponsored health organization Pencerah Nusantara, Ende's people still prefer to consult a shaman than seek help at a health center when they fall sick.
A traditional belief in the mystical has a great deal to do with the widespread habit, but the health centers' poor facilities have deterred residents from seeking medical aid at the clinics as well.
Read More Related Content On This Topic - Click Here
Media
Taxonomy
- Environment
- Water Supply
- Water Utility