Clean water upgrade transforms school and hospital in Vanuabalavu

Students missing school due to diarrhoea and a hospital serving thousands with limited water security have received a major boost, after Habitat for Humanity Fiji completed critical water upgrades in Vanuabalavu.

The organisation has finished water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) improvements at Adi Maopa Secondary School and Lomaloma Hospital, significantly strengthening access to clean and safe drinking water for students, patients, staff and the wider Northern Lau community.

Adi Maopa Secondary School, the only secondary school serving Vanuabalavu and the Northern Lau Group, has long struggled with limited water storage and poor water quality. The issue has contributed to recurring waterborne illnesses, with more than 20 students affected by diarrhoea each month, disrupting attendance and learning.

To address the problem, Habitat Fiji installed 10 new 10,200-litre water tanks, each fitted with first-flush devices and connected to standpipes with Sawyer water filters. A further 10 existing tanks were upgraded with new guttering and first-flush systems, dramatically increasing the school’s capacity to store and supply safe drinking water.

At Lomaloma Hospital, which serves more than 4,000 people across Vanuabalavu, 10 existing tanks were upgraded with improved rainwater harvesting and filtration systems. An additional eight tanks were secured with new tie-downs to improve stability during cyclones, strengthening the hospital’s resilience during extreme weather events.

To ensure the improvements last, Habitat Fiji also provided training to nine community members and school staff on system maintenance and the proper use of water filters.

Habitat for Humanity Fiji interim national director Sangita Kumar said access to safe water was fundamental to health, education and community resilience.

“By strengthening the water systems at Adi Maopa Secondary School and Lomaloma Hospital, we are safeguarding student wellbeing and supporting the hospital’s ability to deliver safe and reliable care,” Ms Kumar said.

She thanked a private donor whose support made the project possible, noting that the improvements would have a lasting impact on families in Northern Lau.

Habitat for Humanity Fiji said the project reflects its ongoing commitment to improving living conditions in remote island communities, where access to basic services such as clean water remains a daily challenge.

The organisation continues to focus on integrating safe water and sanitation into its broader mission of providing decent housing and building resilient communities across Fiji.