Orbis Provides Clean Water to Save Sight, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, water is a precious commodity. Through years of inadequate funding, maintenance and a lack of skilled workers, water provision is well below the needs of Ethiopia's large population.

ORBIS has been working in Dita Woreda for over five years now. As a key element of the WHO recommended S.A.F.E. strategy for trachoma elimination, water is vital to our work. With a population of almost 95000, Dita has long since had a high rate of trachoma infection. Poor infrastructure and inadequate water supply are just some of the reasons for the spread of trachoma in this region. However, with the support of ORBIS, this is changing. 

Through improving the local water supply, we can not only teach the importance of hand and face washing in the battle against trachoma, we can put this into practice. Given that trachoma is spread through contact, clean water is vital in stopping transmission. The added benefit to providing clean, potable water is that not only will this help to eliminate trachoma but it is hoped that there will be a decline in other diseases too. 

In partnership with WaterAid, ORBIS is buliding water stations drawing on subterranean springs. At a cost of just $500, these water stations provide water to some 100 households or 650 people in the immediate vicinity. Through advocacy and community awareness schemes, these stations are providing the population with an alternative to traditional methods of water collection at oftentimes unclean rivers and streams.

As we continue on our journey towards a world where no one is needlessly blind, your support for our clean water projects is extremely important. On behalf of all those who will benefit from these facilities, thank you.

Links:

• Donate to ORBIS Ireland

ORBIS Ireland is committed to providing the Ethiopian people with access to clean water; an integral element in the battle to eliminate trachoma from the country. Trachoma is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted through contact. Promoting personal hygiene and the importance of hand and face washing is highly effective but without access to clean water this education can become redundant. 

 Recently, a group of fundraisers joined me on a tour of Konso, southern Ethiopia. The region is largely inhabited by farming communities. Water is a scarce resource and many members of the community travel up to twenty kilometres to fetch it. The area is largely dry and before our intervention there was virtually no water harvesting infrastructure in place. 

In partnership with Water Aid, ORBIS has transformed accessibility to clean water in this area. Building an underground damn has allowed the community to collect water all year round. In turn, this is connected to a nearby pumping station that serves around 1000 people. The impact of providing water to this community has been enormous and your generosity has made this project possible.   

ORBIS has been working to provide clean water to the people of Konso for over five years now and with your support, we are making progress. Through providing access to clean, potable water, we are helping to eliminate trachoma and other diseases. By 2015, we hope to leave the people of Konso with the skills and infrastructure needed to support themselves in a sustainable way. Thank you for being a part of this. 

Links:

• Our Work in Ethiopia