MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I was delighted to participate today in the official opening of the
headquarters for the AusAID Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project. The
building will house the Environmental Health Division of the Solomon Islands'
Health Department.
The A$10 million Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project is Australia's
largest in the Solomon Islands. When completed in 2001, it will have worked with
5,200 communities to upgrade their water supply and sanitation facilities.
Access to safe drinking water is fundamental to good health and this project
will help deliver clean water to as many as 260,000 rural villagers in the
Solomon Islands.
The drought-related problems that have recently emerged in some areas of
Western Province - and particularly the provincial capital Gizo - illustrate the
need for sound rural water supply systems. I am pleased to see that the AusAID
project is assisting the Provincial Government to deal with the immediate
problems facing the people of Gizo.
The project works directly with various rural communities to identify their
water and sanitation needs and, by involving the villagers throughout the
planning and construction, establishes facilities they want to use.
The importance of good clean water and satisfactory sanitation facilities
cannot be overstated. They have a real impact on the health and lifestyles of
people in these communities.
HONIARA
Media contact: Geoff Adlide (AusAID) 6206 4967 / 0417
683126 Frank Willemsen (Australian High Commission, Honiara) 21561