Thousands of children die every year from water-borne illnesses that are easily preventable. Where there is unsafe water, there are diseases. Where there is clean water and sanitation – there is health; there is life. Particularly in the rural communities of Sierra Leone, the need for clean water is extremely urgent. It is literally a matter of life and death.
Bread and Water for Africa® partner, Faith Healing Development Organization in Sierra Leone operates five clinics, heavily supported by your generous gifts, in remote parts of the country that serve over 20, 000 people every year. Some of these clinics do not have clean running water or ANY water wells to provide basic health care.
Patients like these many times travel miles to get to the clinic when sick or when caring for a sick family member. Many of these clinics in Sierra Leone are without access to clean water. Clean water is so important for their health and survival.
|
Imagine trying to run a health clinic with no water! Most of us cannot imagine getting through our mornings with no water, and yet the diligent health care workers in Sierra Leone do the best they can to support their local countrymen. In these communities, clean water is knowingly scarce, which not only means they have too little water, but the little water they may have access to could be killing them due to its unsanitary nature.
Imagine the cruel dilemma facing families in Sierra Leone. They are thirsty, but the very water they desire could push them to the brink of death thanks to water-borne diseases. Children often walk up to 6 miles a day to local watering holes that they have to share with animals, just to bring back a bucket of water for their family. But when that same water makes them sick, their local clinic may not have water necessary to complete their treatments.
In 2012, we at Bread and Water for Africa aim to provide clean water, better livelihoods, and a brighter future for Africa’s children. Are you with us?
Since 1998 Bread and Water for Africa® has supported the following water collection and management programs:
YETEEM Children and Destitute Mothers Fund, Ethiopia
Namunkanga Sustainable Farming Program, Uganda
Kabwata Orphanage and Transit Centre, Zambia
Gedado Development Organization, Uganda
