Clean water has eradicated cholera in Calaba Town, but villagers still struggle with high food prices and the AIDS epidemic.
Sierra Leone (MNN) ― This year, Living Water International is rehabilitating more than 100 wells in Sierra Leone, where many open wells are contaminated by surface water during the rainy season.
Sierra Leone's sanitation is poor, and its water table is high. So surface water transports all kinds of filth and debris into the wells. As a result, many people contract diarrhea and cholera - often fatally. Water-related disease is the single largest killer of infants in developing countries. Sierra Leone, according to UNICEF, is one of the worst places on earth to be a child.
Life is changing, however, in places like Calaba Town. Dr. Charles Kimbe, community health officer of Calaba Town, diagnosed 50 cases of cholera in 2007. In 2008, the town has not had a single case of cholera!
LWI-Sierra Leone is currently rehabilitating its fifth open well in Calaba Town, and plans are in place to rehabilitate two more. Wells and hand pumps often break down shortly after they are installed, but LWI works differently. It establishes long-term relationships with villages, keeping the wells maintained and involving the villagers in the process.
Yams Farm is one community that had working wells for a few months until they broke. Now, the community has no water during the dry season, and its water during the rainy season is filthy. LWI is installing at least three new hand pumps for Yams Farm.
LWI has been addressing the global water crisis for 17 years and has directly implemented more than 5,000 water projects. It plans to repair at least 1,000 more wells in the year 2008.
For $2000, you can help restore clean water for a village in Sierra Leone.
