Source: KBC
Written By:PPS, Posted: Sat, Sep 24, 2011
President Mwai Kibaki on Friday in New York City held talks with Douglas C. Melvin and the President of an international consultancy firm which provides solutions in various fields including water sanitation for health purposes.
During their talks, Mr. Melvin briefed the President on the Clean Water Project the company intends to undertake in Kenya in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation.
Mr. Melvin further informed the Head of State that the project will be implemented in two Phases.
Phase one will involve the installation of a demo unit at a site selected by the Ministry and phase two will involve DACC working with the Ministry of Public Heath in installing 2,500 units at selected health clinics throughout Kenya.
The Project is intended to address seven of the 2015 UN Millennium Development Goals and also supports the implementation of a holistic approach to water supply, while also addressing health and climate change.
The project will also provide clean water to 2,500 rural health clinics and the surrounding communities thus helping an estimated 1.2 million Kenyans to have access to safe and clean water.
On his part, President Kibaki asked the Ministry to immediately implement the project while at the same time ensuring that it is sustainable by ensuring that the production of the equipment is subsequently done in the country through effective transfer of technology.
The President also requested the firm to train Kenyans in setting up and maintaining similar projects so as to ensure many more Kenyans access clean water.
He at the same time said Kenyan companies and institutions need to be involved in drilling of boreholes during the implementation of the Clean Water Project.
Present during the talks were Minister for Public Health and Sanitation Beth Mugo and the Head of Department of Disease Prevention and Control in the Ministry Dr. Willis Akhwale and other senior Government officials.
President Mwai Kibaki in talks with Douglas Melvin, President of Dark Associates consultant firm who called on him at his residential hotel in New York. With him is the Public Health and Sanitation Minister, Beth Mugo.
