A doctor at Dorset County Hospital will be travelling to Uganda to try and improve how villages get clean water.
Anthony Agbobu, 43, lives in Dorchester and has been a doctor in acute medicine for the last 19 years. He is currently working at Dorset County Hospital, alongside studying a Master's degree in business administration at the university of Westminster.
Part of his degree involves going to Uganda and working with the Busoga Trust charity to try and solve issues surrounding the availability of clean water.
Dr Agbobu said: "Basically, these water wells are either functional or non-functional. If they can be fixed while they are still functional then it is a lot easier and cheaper than to try and fix a non-functional well.
"At the moment the current system does not work because the wells don't get fixed fast enough and it ends up costing more, so we are going to go into these villages to see if whether a system where the villagers self report these issues can be effective.
"Unfortunately, when the wells stop working the villagers have to drink dirty, polluted water from the river and they are dying. By maintaining the wells and repairing them earlier instead of replacing them when they are broken, the Busoga Trust will be able to provide a source of clean water to these villages all year round.
"It's about education and getting them to take ownership of the wells as well as minimising costs. We take it for granted when we turn on the tap and water comes out, we never question the safety of the water we drink. As a doctor I will be aware of some of the health risks associated with drinking polluted water so that may give me an edge and help me out there.
"If we can get this to work in one or two villages then I will be speaking to the Ugandan High Commissioner to try and get this scheme rolled out country-wide. The ultimate goal is for African countries to be completely foreign aid free in the next 20 to 30 years."
Dr Agbobu will be travelling to Uganda in April. He is trying to raise £2,000 for the Busoga Trust through a Virgin Money Giving page here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?pageId=1006401
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