Americans are working together to help solve the global safe drinking water challenge. Through community organizations like local Rotary clubs, they are partnering with the federal government and communities around the world to expand access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Rotary's International H2O Collaboration is one recent success.
International H2O Collaboration, an alliance between Rotary International and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), built a mechanized system to provide more than 10,000 people in three communities in Ghana with safe drinking water.
The water system is part of a US$2 million project that is providing boreholes, hand pumps, and mechanized pipes, as well as ventilated pit latrines and showers, across Ghana’s Volta, Greater Accra, Eastern, and Central regions.
"This project is a great example of public and private partnership at its very best, to improve not only the quality of life, but life itself, immeasurably," said Rotary International President, Kalyan Banerjee.
"This innovative partnership between USAID, the Ghana Ministry for Water Resources, and Rotary International saves lives by reducing these communities’ use of unsafe open water sources,” said Laurel Fain, chief of the USAID Ghana Health Office. “Today, the community and the government of Ghana take responsibility for maintaining these facilities and for continuing to educate children and citizens in proper hygiene, creating conditions where our assistance is no longer necessary.”
The International H2O Collaboration is in its third year. As part of the efforts in Ghana, the collaboration is also funding hygiene training and bio-sand water filters in the Dominican Republic, and a project in the Philippines to improve sewage collection and treatment that will help more than 150,000 people.
According to USAID officials and Rotarians who have been involved in the initiatives, the collaboration has provided valuable insight into best practices for water and sanitation projects.
To read the full article visit Rotary International
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This press release is reprinted by Alanna Shaikh out of an obscure sense of guilt. It does not represent the opinions of Alanna Shaikh or any of her employers.
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