Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), has given USD $500,000 to World Vision to support its flood rehabilitation effort in addressing the Health and Hygiene needs of those affected by the April Flooding in the Weathercoast of Guadalcanal Province.
World Vision Solomon Islands Director Janes Imanuel Ginting, thanked ICDF and the Taiwan Ambassador Victor Te-sun Yu and the government of Republic of China (Taiwan) for their support saying that the fund will help World Vision to continue its rehabilitation efforts particularly around addressing the health and hygiene needs of communities most affected by the disaster in Weathercoast.
“The funding will go towards Health and Hygiene activities in wards Wards 10 (Moli), 11 (Tetekanji), and 12 (Birao) of Guadalcanal, particularly the most affected communities to help improve their health and prevent the spread of diseases and provide children and their families with resources that will help to protect their health,” said Mr Ginting.
Mr. Ginting also thanked the Premier of Guadalcanal Province, Mr. Bartholomew Vavanga for the support and cooperation from his government and the communities during initial development of the project and hope that the same spirit will continue right throughout the implementation phase of the project.
In response, His Excellency Victor Tesun Yu said that Taiwan is happy to support World Vision. “The Taiwan Government is happy to engage in disaster relief in the wake of both the Temotu Tsunami and the Guadalcanal tropical storm and especially in the Weather Coast area where it is particularly vulnerable and beyond the reach of the public service,” said His Excellency Ambassador Yu.
Children and their families are suffering from diarrhoea and other health issues due to a lack of knowledge on proper hygiene, contaminated water and damaged pens for animal raising. World Vision plans to use the funding from the ICDF to (1) strengthen the capacity of health workers to deliver health and hygiene training in their communities and build on existing rural health systems; (2) promote the awareness and knowledge of health and hygiene practices to reduce the incidence of disease; (3) restore and/or improve water systems that provide potable water; and (4) restore environmental conditions through the proper building of pens and corrals for raising poultry and livestock in order to improve hygiene and reduce mosquito breeding areas around households, as well as prevent damage to gardens and crops.
A Memorandum of Understanding between ICDF and World Vision was signed in December 2014, to confirm the partnership to work together to improve the lives of children and their families and communities in the Weathercoast of Guadalcanal.
Currently a team comprising of Taiwan ICDF Project Manager, Ms. Liu Ling Chun, World Vision Taiwan Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Grants Team Leader, Mr. Hu Yen Huang and the World Vision Solomon Islands Operations Manager Mr Brooks Dodge are in the Weathercoast to meet with local partners and stakeholders and communities to explain the new project.
The project is an 18 months project and will end in June 2016.
