Boreholes are being installed in residential neighborhoods to meet the daily water needs of the population. After several years marked by difficulties in supplying drinking water, residents of Madagascar's northern capital are gradually seeing improvements in their daily lives. In several city districts, drilling work is multiplying, offering a concrete alternative to the inadequacies of Jirama's distribution network.
Water shortage has long been one of the main concerns for Antsiranana households. Repeated cuts and low network pressure force many families to travel several kilometers to obtain water or to buy it at often high prices.
Facing this reality, initiatives have intensified in recent months. Several boreholes have been drilled in different neighborhoods, including at Antsiranana University, allowing thousands of residents to have access to nearby water points.
The implementation of these infrastructures relies on several funding sources. Private operators have invested in creating boreholes for both individuals and businesses. Meanwhile, the State continues its efforts through financing provided by certain ministries to improve access to drinking water in the most vulnerable areas.
Deputies are also participating in this dynamic through resources mobilized under the Investment Account for Development Support (CIAD). These funds enable financing of local infrastructure directly addressing needs expressed by populations.
However, a large portion of the works completed in Antsiranana remains the result of international solidarity. Several non-governmental organizations, humanitarian associations, and foreign partners finance or co-finance borehole projects to sustainably improve living conditions for local communities.
A driver of regional development
For women and children, traditionally responsible for water collection, these new boreholes also represent considerable time savings that can be devoted to studies, income-generating activities, or family life.
Through the multiplication of boreholes, the government affirms its willingness to accelerate improvement of basic social services and strengthen territorial resilience.
"In the DIANA region, this dynamic accompanies a broader ambition. It is about creating the necessary conditions for economic development, improving the well-being of populations, and ensuring sustainable territorial attractiveness. Through the multiplication of boreholes, the government wants to meet the immediate needs of populations and lay the foundations for sustainable territorial development," explained regional water director Armand Rakotoniaina during the technical reception of four boreholes installed in four neighborhoods.
However, if the construction of new boreholes constitutes an important advance, their sustainability will depend on establishing an effective management and maintenance system. Training of management committees, availability of spare parts, and regular technical monitoring remain essential conditions to guarantee the proper functioning of installations in the long term.