r - part - usaid

of safe-water supply systems.
The personnel, facilities and operations of the laboratory
must be maintained to insure a succeaaful water resource
program. Weaknesses in any one of these factors should be cause
for concern,
The chemical laboratory located in the K m facilities
initially had a staff of twenty-five persons. Qnly one of the
staff was a professional chemist. The remainder of the staff
consisted of lEibor9t~ry technicians and cleaners. Attendance of
personnel at the lab experiences the same problems as discussed
with respect to ather professional and technical staff; low
wages add lack af incentives. The few who maintained an
interest were trained in basic analytical work and ware able to
perform various analyses under supervision.
Five professional chemists and two laboratory technicians
were recruited during the early stages of the project. All the
professional chemises and one laboxatoxy technician have
received or are receiving training in the ?J.S. Two arn still in
the U.S., two have been dismissed, one has transferred to the
hydrageology staff, one has transferred to the Planning Unit,
and one provides intermittent service to the lab.
All those participating received on-the-job trc,i.ning
in-country in water chemistry, microbioloqical field tests,
interpretation of water-quality data, and in report writing,
Seminars have been given in water chemistry and microbiology.
2.6.2 Laboratory Facilities
The MMWR laboratories are the only major laboratory facility
outside of those associated with the National University of
~omalia. The potential exists rherefore of making the Izb a
self-sustaining unit. Prior to establishing this level of
operation, considerable work zust be done an the building and
work areas; electrical and plunbing repairs are most important.
A reliable source of water to the laboratory for preparation of
distilled water and for the cleaning of glassware must be
installed.
Power will be a continual problem, and the laboratory should
have back-up power generation equipment to insure that analyses
oqce started, can be completed unintermpted. Voltage-regulator
equipment to 2revent electrical spikes or voltage drops is also
essentiaf, as analytical inatsumentation will not produce valid
results ~f n ~ t able to function properly. Unfcrtunately, some
lab data are of cpeationabfe accuracy because of these problems.