Alleviating Maternal Sufferings in Rural Areas through Built Environment

KU-TIMES

Project idea

Pakistan is currently facing high maternal and infant mortality rate. This is due to the fact that there are certain physical and non-physical barriers that make it difficult for women, in rural areas of Pakistan, to access medical facilities. The idea behind this project is to design a space that can help improve maternal health in rural areas such as Tharparkar, Pakistan.

Project description

A Thari woman is not just responsible for household chores, she is also supposed to look after the livestock, collect woods and most important of all, she is responsible for fetching water daily from a distant source. Fetching water in Tharparkar means walking kilometers under the scorching sun on slippery sand or rough and rocky pathways with barely any tree to provide shade or retreat on the way to water source. Despite being a strenuous task, water collection also serves as an opportunity for the women of Tharparkar to come out of their houses to gather, connect and bond. This daily task becomes a mode of socialization for these women when they walk together for miles with their children and livestock. They communicate about their problems and discuss their lives and listen to each other which is quite impossible indoors because of the cultural conditioning of most of the rural regions that keeps women from vocalizing their struggles or thoughts. In simpler words, the duty of fetching water becomes a uniting force for the women of Tharparkar.
Keeping this in mind, the facility is strategically designed on an existing route which is followed by the women to get to the lake and visit temple.
The programs comprise of two main categories, Functional programs (well equipped) and social programs
Design concept revolves around three main aspects
1. Water- the source of life
2. Care- strengthening bondage of community
3. Agriculture- creating sense of belonging

Technical information

Materials used in the project are vernacular as local and easily available materials would result in a humble design which would maintain familiarity with the surroundings while providing a comfortable environment for women.
The base of the facility comprises of stone foundation and compacted earth flooring. The walls are made of clay and bamboo posts while the roof comprises of bamboo framing followed by polythene sheet and thatch.
The facility is enveloped by agricultural zone on the east. To maximize the fertility of the land half-moon irrigation techniques are applied where the depressions in the land accumulate water/rainwater to keep the land fertile for longer period of time. Moreover, plants that thrive in the arid climate of Tharparkar and are beneficial for the health of women and children are harvested for example Moringa, Bair (Jujube) and lemon.
To simplify water storage and water collection, techniques used in the historical Venetian wells have been applied, where the slopes lead the rainwater towards the well. Before collecting in the tank, the water filters through the layers of sand and gravel.
Electricity for the Functional programs like clinics and sample collection unit is sourced from the vertical wind turbines located at the south west of the facility just before water collection area. These turbines are made out of bamboos and the rotors comprise of Ralli, a locally available fabric hand stitched by the women of Thar.