January, 2011 Archive

WATERisLIFE is excited to announce that 2,000 additional filters will be distributed in Northern Haiti, Feb 15-22.  The team will join a medical team and will share cholera prevention information, host important hygiene training and distribute WiL filters.

15,000 filters have been distributed in Haiti since the devastating earthquake hit over one year ago and the life-saving filters have brought clean water to thousands during the deadly cholera epidemic which began in late October 2010.  The filters will continue to provide Haitians with clean water for up to one year.

We are so thankful to WiL donors for providing the much needed funds to the provide filters to Haiti – specifically at such a critical time when they are needed most.  The WiL filter removes the cholera bacteria – vibrio cholerae – which is killing thousands in Haiti, and a majority of these are children.  Water sources all over the country have been contaminated and this is a reliable source to obtain clean, uninfected water to drink.

The 2,000+  filters will be distributed in the Northern Haiti area through a medical team and partner organizations.

“We are excited to get back into the field and get filters where they are needed now, and are pleased that we can distribute the filters quickly and provide assistance as soon as donor dollars are received.   Keep the dollars coming in…and we will continue to get filters into the field.”  -  Ken Surritte, WiL Founder

WiL Gear now available!

Order your standard T-shirt or V-neck in a variety of sizes.  Also available cool, comfortable and adjustable WiL Military Style caps – great field gear!

WiL Shirts – $20.00

WiL Caps – $15.00

Place your order request  http://waterislife.com/about/contact-us/

Sizes may be limited.  Place your order now  -  WiL gear will go quickly!

WATERisLIFE Founder, Ken Surritte and Water Projects Director, Mark Bender talk about the incredible importance of continuing to bring clean water to Haitians.  Check it out!

http://www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?S=13808903

Frutzner Domelus is the eldest son in a family of seven in Haiti.  He hand dug this well in his family’s front yard.  His father worked to earn the money to dig the well and create the cement work around it.  The family shares the water with many neighbors and friends who live in their community.  Frutzner is very proud of the family well…but there is only one problem.   The well has only been dug to approx. 25 feet and we worry that the water is contaminated, as the clean water is located at approx 80 feet.  Also, without a a sealed lid/pump, bacteria can enter thru normal daily use.  With the cholera outbreak  - and the river systems carrying the Vibrio Cholerae bacteria – we worry about the cleanliness of the water for their community.

It was a Wednesday in Limbe, Haiti.  The cholera numbers were quickly climbing to epidemic proportions.   We spent the afternoon at Bon Samaritan Hospital.  I sat with a mother and her daughter on their cot in quiet.

They are from the Limbe area and the mother, and her two children arrived at the hospital on Sunday evening. They had ingested contaminated water.   Upon arrival, all three were extremely dehydrated and very sick.   On Monday midday, Adlner, the young boy of 4 died on the cot from dehydration.  Now it’s Wednesday – mother and her 6 year old daughter were regaining their strength and now preparing to deal with the loss of the little one.

I gave them each a WiL filter to take home.  I know for sure they will not be back in the hospital now that they have a filter to drink from.  But what about those that are not getting filters and must continue to drink contaminated water?  What will they do?  What can we do?

‘All the statistics in the world can’t measure the warmth of a smile.’  quote from Chris Hart in Here’s To You.

While in Haiti this past few months the WiL team saw hundreds of children suffering in hospitals with cholera, many small caskets entering the one and only cemetery, and thousands of families worried that the impending cholera outbreak is looming over those they love.

It was clearly evident that WATERisLIFE filters are a true life-saver and seem the only prevention right now.  Once cholera is ingested – it hits children rapidly.  Dehydration can occur within hours and when – and if – they receive medical attention, their tiny veins have collapsed and it is a challenge for the over worked and exhausted medical staff to put in an IV.  The statistics will continue to grow…and the smiles from the children’s faces continue to haunt the team.  So much need for filters – a simple solution that can help now.

Many in Haiti are forced to drink from rivers, specifically in rural areas.  Even though the word was quickly passed that the rivers were becoming infected with vibrio cholerae bacteria many still needed to, and continue to drink water each day.  The cost of charcoal to boil the water is more than many families may have each day – and therefore, water is not boiled before it is ingested.  Haitians bath, wash laundry, and children play in rivers.  Ingested water is the culprit.  In addition, good hygiene habits need to be practiced daily – washing of hands when caring for someone infected, before cooking and eating and bleaching fruits and vegetables.  Education is key.

During Hygiene Training classes, Haitians asked many questions regarding the disease;  how did their country become infected, how can they prevent the disease, can rum cure cholera, do they need to quarantine people infected in their villages?  Cholera is new to Haitians, and they are hungry for education and are truly desiring to prevent it’s further spread.

The quick on set of dehydration from cholera can affect someone’s health within hours.  And with many living in rural areas, with no medical facilities – time is of the essence in rehydration and medical care.

Thousands have been infected, thousands more will die.  WATERisLIFE personal filter can truly protect people that continue to drink from contaminated water sources, because they have no other choice.

The cholera epidemic will not go away soon.  But with prevention tools, education and proper hygiene – cholera can be contained – with a substantial savings of lives.  An outbreak of cholera in Africa has taken almost three decades to contain.  With the number of NGOs and Aid in Haiti – in partnerships, surely we can provide the tools to stop the number of those drinking contaminated water.

It is the warmth of the children’s smiles that remind the WiL team everyday.  And there is no way to measure that.