Rotary Club of Tamale, last year spent about 799,728 dollars for the provision of potable water to four guinea worm endemic communities in the Northern Region to address guinea worm and trachoma diseases in the region. The beneficiary communities are, Wantugu, Voggu, in Savelugu/Nanton and Singa and Nabigu in Tolon/Kumbungu Districts. The money was used to mechanise the Singa borehole to improve the quality of water supply to the communities. Mr Willie Keteku, Governor of District 9100 in charge of 14 countries in the West African Sub-Region announced this in Tingoli, a rural community in Tolon/Kumbungu District when some pupils were presented school uniforms. The presentation was the result of a research conducted by the club, that showed most of the children were not attending school because their parents could not afford school uniforms and other logistics. Rotarian Bill Babineau of Rotary Club of Lebanon who visited the community last year assisted the Tamale Rotary Club with GH¢ 860, to purchase the uniforms for 108 needy children. Mr Keteku said 87,000 dollars out of the amount was used to rehabilitate the Chirifoyili Dam in Tolon/Kumbungu District. Seven hand pumps were installed on the dam, installation of water supply system at Kpalbe and Gbrumani using bio-sand water filters on water from the dam. Mr Keteku said Walewale and Tamale areas benefited from hand dug wells and water purification systems as well as the small towns mechanised systems at a cost of 264,080 dollars. He said 92,500 dollars was spent on Damongo Water Supply project to drill and mechanise some boreholes for improved water supply while a separate funding of 800,000 dollars was used to purchase eye and other hospital equipment for Tamale Teaching Hospital. Mr Keteku said some of the projects had been completed and inaugurated while others would be completed before the end of the year. He said the club would begin with its pipeline water projects in Brong Ahafo, Upper East and Northern Regions estimated at about 149,700 dollars and funds had already been sourced. Mr Keteku also inspected a household latrine project built for Goriziegu community in Tamale Metropolis to ensure good hygiene. He also inspected a Guinea worm containment centre at Savelugu and pledged to assist with the upkeep of the inmates. Tingoli Lana, Na Musah Abdulai, Chief of Tingoli commended the club for their efforts to support education in the area. He pledged to provide land to individuals who would invest in the area and appealed for the establishment of a Junior High School for the community. Source: GNA