Raviravi villagers in Macuata Province will now take own­ership of their water supply system.

They will also be equipped with adequate training to conduct mi­nor maintenance works to ensure constant and reliable water source.

This was after a Minister of Health and Medical Services team organised a three-day Water Safety Management Plan training where members of the village water com­mittee team were trained on the minor maintenance of the water supply system.

Villagers had raised the issue of intermittent water supply with the Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete, during his visit to the village earli­er this year to commission a sanita­tion project.

Divisional health inspector North­ern Division, Vakaruru Cavuilati, said the training was geared to as­sist the villagers possess a docu­mented

plan on their water supply system from the source to the taps of every household.

Mr Cavuilati said the training equipped villagers and encouraged them to take ownership of their wa­ter supply system.

“There are committees that will have responsibilities on maintain­ing the different supply systems.”

Mr Cavuilati indicated that a fi­nancial arrangement would be or­ganised where the committee could carry out minor repairs to the sys­tem, protection of water source and improvement of supply storage.

This would minimise their de­pendence on external assistance for minor issues.

“Villagers will be trained and mechanisms will be in place to rec­tify some issues when the need for maintenance arises,” he said.

The plan is to have a water safety management plan training for more than 50 per cent of communi­ties in the division.

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