Canada earmarks $1.5 million to improve rural community contribution in drinking water management

Canada will earmark $1.5 million to support a project to help rural populations' involvement in the management and maintenance of drinking water systems.

The donation was announced by Canadian minister of international cooperation and francophony, Diane Marleau, who is part of a delegation accompanying Canada's general governor Romeo Le Blanc, visiting Morocco.

In a statement released by her department, the Canadian official explained that by enabling rural populations maintain drinking water facilities, access to this valuable resource is increased and protected, helping to improve the health and well being of this population.

The project follows suit to a 1990 initiative co-financed by the Canadian Agency of International Development. The initiative consists in laying pumping systems to service 90,000 persons in 12 villages. To ensure the durability of these facilities, communities will be supplied with tools to organize access to water and the management and maintenance of equipment.

It is a Canadian non-governmental organization "Oxfam-Quebec" that will be in charge of developing training activities and promote health education among the target population.