Children's Safe Drinking Water

Ashley Judd Blogs About Providing PUR in DR Congo

The famous movie star Ashley Judd recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda with Population Services International.   Ashley is a Board member of PSI and leverages her celebrity status to build awareness of PSI efforts.  During her recent trip, she supported PSI's work to provide the PUR sachets to prevent diarrhea, insecticide-treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria, and condoms to prevent HIV/AIDS. 

Joely Richardson is part of the Warm Heart of Africa

Today, we’re visiting rural Malawi with Joely Richardson and the media as part of the Ariel “Be Water Wise” initiative.  While yesterday was a tough day emotionally to learn about the extent of the health impact of unsafe drinking water, today we’ll learn how we’re making a difference through the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program.

Ariel’s “Be Water Wise” Starring Joely Richardson

I’m in Malawi with the celebrity Joely Richardson.  Joely is a television and movie star appearing in the HBO television hit series Nip and Tuck.  She’s also been in many films including The Last Mimzy and Patriot.  Joely agreed to be a spokesperson for Ariel UK’s program to leverage our Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program.

Nurses and WorldVision in Malawi

I’m in Malawi where it’s the rainy season.  This is my first time to visit Malawi during the rainy season and the difference is impressive.  The arid landscape of the dry season has turned into a verdant utopia.

“Give PUR Water” for Southern Sudan

Today is my last day in Sudan and we need to make some decisions. But, first we drive a little out of Juba to meet with the Equatorial Branch of the Women’s Organization for Development and Capacity Building in Munuki.

Dust and Okra

This morning is eerie.  I’m up early and there is so much dust that it’s like a thick fog, only instead of making you cold and wet this fog makes you dusty and hot.  We drive slowly with the headlights of the PSI vehicle peering into the dust.  I don’t think I’ll ever see a dust cloud again without thinking of the dust of Juba, Sudan.

Drinking from the Nile in southern Sudan

I land in Juba, the capital of southern Sudan.  It’s oppressively hot and will go above 100 degrees Fahrenheit today.  There are dust clouds everywhere.  It’s no wonder with these dust storms and heat, the rainy season is greeted with prayers of thanksgiving in this part of Africa.

PUR to the Rescue in Northern Uganda

Dennis Kakooza of PSI Uganda and I start the day in Soroti, located in northern Uganda.  It’s a beautiful day with blue skies and the sun shining hot early in the morning.  The people of Soroti are glad to see the sun.  A few months ago, they didn’t see it for 30 straight days as downpours of rain continued through the day and night.  A flood resulted that was bigger than any ever recorded previously in this area.  The water flooded large parts of the low-lying plains and forced about 375,000 people from their homes.

Miriam

My last stop on this trip is Uganda.  We launched PUR in Uganda in 2004 and have seen steady growth of our Children’s Safe Drinking Water program.  We provided more than 1 million liters of safe drinking water in our first year, then 5 million in 2005, 13 million in 2006, and exceeded 20 million in 2007.

New Video -- My Visit with Maasai

As I end my trip to Kenya and head to Uganda, I want to share a video that we prepared following one of my previous trips to Kenya.  I had the great pleasure of visiting the AID Village Clinics in Mbirikani, Kenya.