Worcester Polytechnic InstituteDigitalCommons@WPI

Great Problems Seminar Posters Great Problems Seminar

2012

Water Education in Sierra LeoneMichael GirouxWorcester Polytechnic Institute

Erika KollitzWorcester Polytechnic Institute

Caroline MazzolaWorcester Polytechnic Institute

Stephanie SymeckoWorcester Polytechnic Institute

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Recommended CitationGiroux, Michael; Kollitz, Erika; Mazzola, Caroline; and Symecko, Stephanie, "Water Education in Sierra Leone" (2012). GreatProblems Seminar Posters. Book 313.http://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/gps-posters/313

Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital city, West Africa © Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Background

Water Education in Sierra Leone Michael Giroux (BCB), Erika Kollitz (BC/PH), Caroline Mazzola (BME), Stephanie

Symecko (BME/PRE-MED) Advisors: Jill Rulfs (BBT), Helen Vassallo (Management)

• The 11 year civil war left country in ruins2 • Restricted access to clean water3 • Water sources are polluted and unsafe for drinking3 • Water carrying prevents woman and children from going to school or household duties4 • Unclean water sources lead to waterborne diseases5

• Educational program • Top-down approach • Design and distribute informational brochure via WHO

Results: • Informational brochure • Information on existing water collection and sanitation methods

Sierra Leone An education in H2O

References:

• Current water collection methods1 • Lack of water availability and sanitation

Goals of Program

ü Expose existing, more efficient means of collecting water.

ü Educate on alternatives to free-standing wells.

ü Inform of negative consequences of carrying heavy weight on head.

Problem

Methods

1. Trani, J., Browne, J., Kett, M., Bah, O., Morlai, T., Bailey, N., & Groce, N. (2011). Access to health care, reproductive health and disability: A large scale survey in Sierra Leone. Social Science & Medicine, 73(10), 1477-1489. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/220148732 2. Abdullah, Ibrahim (2004). Between Democracy and Terror: The Sierra Leone Civil War. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. 3. World Health Organization, & United Nation's Children Fund (2012, March). Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation. JMP > Welcome to the WHO & UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme: introduction. Retrieved November 1, 2012, from http://www.wssinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/resources/SLE_wat.pdf 4. Trani, J., Browne, J., Kett, M., Bah, O., Morlai, T., Bailey, N., & Groce, N. (2011). Access to health care, reproductive health and disability: A large scale survey in Sierra Leone. Social Science & Medicine, 73(10), 1477-1489. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22014873 5. Massaquoi, M. (2012, March 21). Water Crisis Hits Mattru Jong - Residents Forced to Drink Polluted Water. Concord Times [Concord]. http://www.ehjournal.net/content/9/1/52