Thirty-one wall mounted wash points were installed in community-based clinics and disability centres in the Cook Islands – 22 in Rarotonga, five in Aitutaki and four in Mangaia – in an effort to promote good hygiene habits.

Grant funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have been gratefully received and were put to good use in providing resources including tools to prepare and protect vulnerable communities from Covid-19.

The project focused on “mitigating the impact of Covid-19 through community led interventions” and was successfully received by the Cook Islands Child Welfare Association (CICWA) and Cook Islands Disability Council (CIDC). 

Susan Sadaraka on behalf of CICWA was instrumental in leading the implementation of the project and will be hosting a review mission by the (ADB) next week, February 20-23. 

Sadaraka acknowledged the generous support from the ADB towards supporting the vulnerable communities.

“These initiatives have provided valuable resources in our community clinics which have been well utilised by mothers and young children using the Paunu health care services.”

Paunu clinics now have wash basins “to encourage young children reinforce good hygiene habits such as washing hands which we hope are positive behaviour traits which is shared with the extended family household”.

In 2021, the civil society organisation received US$80,000 (NZ$128,746) to provide resources. The initiative included the installations of WASH points/basins, dispensary systems for sanitising homes, personal spaces, and assistive devices, contact tracing and personal protective equipment (PPEs).

The project supported the travel to the Pa Enua (Aitutaki and Mangaia) to deliver Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) packages and the installation of wall mounted wash points in the communities on these islands. 

A team also travelled to these islands in January 2021 to undergo a series of trainings, workshops, and capacity building activities on the usage, maintenance and management of these resources.

Thirty-one wall mounted wash points were installed in community-based clinics and disability centres in the Cook Islands – 22 in Rarotonga, five in Aitutaki and four in Mangaia.

Wash points are located at eight of the 16 active Rarotonga based clinics and are fully operational at the child welfare clinics. One of the wash basins was installed in the Are Pa Metua.

The project has also strengthened the partnership with key stakeholders such as the government and other non-profit organisations.