FORTY-TWO families heaved a sigh of relief in Bua yesterday as years of drinking unsafe water came to an end following the installation of water filters in each household.
Thanks to the Ministry of Health and the Give Clean Water Fiji Operations (GCWFO), villagers of Navunievu can now consume safe water.
Northern health inspector Rakesh Kumar said the initiative came after they recorded four cases of typhoid in the area early this year. "We conducted an investigation and tests indicated that the villagers were drinking unsafe water.
"The environmental health department approached some corporate agencies and we were fortunate that Give Clean Water opted to help the villagers with the water filters. We received the filters last week and the villagers helped us to install them in every household," he said.
GCWFO director Paul Abraham said the filters were bought from the US for $6300.
"We are happy to help those rural-dwellers who are deprived from consuming safe water. This is a collaborative effort between GCWFO and the Health Ministry for the purpose of upgrading the standard of living for these villagers," Mr Abraham said