AMPATH helps provide safe water to those in need

When thirsty, most of us simply twist open a bottle of water or walk a few feet to the nearest water fountain or spigot. Rarely do we think about scarcity or access to drinking water. Today, however, 1 in 8 people worldwide don’t have access to safe drinking water and 37% of those people are in sub Saharan Africa. AMPATH team members witness this daily when treating patients for preventable water-borne diseases such as typhoid or cholera. Children, HIV patients, and the elderly are especially susceptible due to weak immune systems.

In 2010 AMPATH kicked off a program called Maji Safi (“safe water” in Kiswahili) to make safe water available to hospitals and rural communities in western Kenya. Most homes in the AMPATH catchment area do not have running water; therefore, people must walk, sometimes miles, to the nearest stream or pond to fetch water. Many times these water sources are filled with tiny worms and bacteria that are naturally found in water. If the water hasn’t been properly filtered and sanitized for consumption it can cause devastating diseases in humans. The Maji Safi initiative strives to provide water through digging boreholes for fresh water, encouraging water treatment with clay filters, and training local communities about water-borne disease. Last month, the village of Legetet celebrated as the Maji Safi crew dug a borehole for the community.

We need your help! The Maji Safi program is in critical need of funding. The existing funds used to sustain the program are dwindling. If you are participating in a run, walk, or other event this summer we are seeking people to do a fundraising campaign to raise money and help keep the safe water program thriving. If interested, please contact Theresa Vernon at tm5@iu.edu to set up your personal online Maji Safi fundraising page.