R Clay introduced Richard Mewhinney from the Rotary Club of Newmarket and District International Service Director.
Richard is here to share an update of the progress at the Oungutoi Health Centre in Uganda and advising how our money has been used.
Note that you can see Richard's presentation as part of the Districts October 2021 Tuesday Talks available on the District's web page.'
Richard shared a brief video and pictures of the Sustainable water project at the Ougutoi Health Centre.
Richard emphasized that no donation is too small. Our $500 donation was matched and turned into $1500 towards this project.
Richard got involved in this project in 2009 and has visited the site 24 times in the past decade with his last visit late 2019 but hoping to be able to visit again in the spring of 2022.
The situation in Uganda is a result of 20 years of conflict with the LRA and refugees.
In 2009 when Richard first visited the Health Centre, the Centre was rat and bat infested.
This project is to provide a sustainable water system to grow oranges to provide revenue for the Health Centre. The water system consists of a water collection system during the rainy seasons, storage tanks both buried and above ground, then a drip irrigation system to grow orange trees for market.
They currently have 276,000 litres of water storage on site. The collection system, storage and orange grove have been expanded over the past decade.
Oranges are very well suited and grow well in the area as long as they have water in the dry seasons. They have 2 wet and 2 dry seasons each year. Orange trees grow and produce fruit for 25 years and they produce year round but with two primary crops annually. There is a local and regional market / demand for oranges.
The health centre services about 1,000 people a month with a birth each day on average. The mortality rate has dropped to less than 1%. The Health Centre services an area population of over 100,000 people and regionally to a million. They have enhance HIV/AIDs treatment and aim to provide free health care.
Revenue from the sale of the oranges is to cover the costs of the Health Centre for maintenance, operating and capital.
The water system is the first of its kind in Africa. And it is now being copied by others in the region.
The project involved significant community engagement. They have a memorandum of understanding with the Uganda Government that the revenue goes to the Health Centre. They have a horticulturalist involved in the care of the orange trees.
In 2021 they have harvested 150 kgs of fruit taken to market.
Next steps is to add 2500 more trees and create a new reservoir and collection system always taking advantage of the terrain. They are working to partner with a local Rotary Club and apply for a Global Grant. Richard has seed money and commitments from several D7070 Rotary Clubs.
Rotarian Daniel thanked Richard for his efforts and providing us this update.