…further finishes over 15 classrooms projects in the country
BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE– Extreme weather events, large wildfires and other environmental disasters are becoming more frequent as a result of climate change.
In an attempt to build and create climate change-resilient communities, Micro Projects is considering creating and developing projects that will be hardly affected by climate change.
This was revealed by Microproject’s Sbusiso Mbingo, during a live interview on Eswatini Broadcasting Services’ (EBIS) morning interview.
He said these climate-driven events are impacting communities in many ways, impairing air and water quality, polluting land and increasing health risks of residents.
“As communities work to protect public health from more heat waves, wildfire smoke, flooding and other job opportunities from climate-related disasters, they need resources and information to better prepare for, withstand and recover from them,” he said.
Mbingo said they were at the forefront of research to empower communities to become more resilient to climate change.
He mentioned that communities that are resilient to climate change are able to effectively prepare for and recover from its effects, and continue to thrive.
Mbingo said communities can build resilience by offering safe and durable shelter to withstand extreme weather, generating and storing renewable power, absorbing rainwater to reduce flooding and replenishing aquifers, using vegetation to provide shade and improve air quality.
“Investing in these strengths of climate-resilient communities provides multiple benefits for human health, the economy, and the environment,” he said.
Meanwhile, when deducing work completed under the year in review, Microproject’s report revealed that 43 community demand-driven projects were completed, these comprise 13 dip tanks; three grazing schemes, five water supply schemes, two semidetached teachers’ houses, one school fencing, three footbridges, two road strips, two low-level crossings, three suspended footbridges, seven community halls, and two community markets.
It further reveals that Capital projects completed consist of structures in schools (classrooms, staff houses, toilets, laboratories, administration blocks, laboratory fittings, provision of potable water systems), screening offices and provision of potable water in various health facilities, structures for the Ministry of ICT, rehabilitated structures at the National Psychiatric Centre, TB Hospital, Somhlolo National Stadium, Lubombo Referral Hospital, Mbabane Government Hospital, Matsapha Police Academy, Somhlolo National Stadium, Eswatini Parliament.
“Medical gas plants at the TB Hospital and Lubombo Referral Hospital were installed while installation of a COVID -19 vaccine storage freezer was completed at the Central Medical Stores. The Regional Development Fund completed 89 projects, 17 Income Generating Projects (IGPs), and 72 Infrastructure projects. These projects will directly benefit an estimated population of 50 773,” reads the report.
Mbingo also spoke of community projects that will directly benefit an estimated population of 82 732.
According to him, 163 capital projects were completed and they constituted 133 for the Ministry of Education and Training, 25 for the Ministry of Health, and five for other government ministries. “Although a considerable number of projects implemented this financial year are complete and functional, they are still at the Defect Liability Period (DLP) stage. These comprise 66 community demand-driven projects, 1 029 projects under the Ministry of Education and Training, 19 for the Ministry of Health, and seven from other ministries,” he said.
