Children's Safe Drinking Water

PUR Reactor, CARE in Clinics, and a Reunion with Jemima Odo

I’m in rural western Kenya to check on several of our activities in the area.  This is the area where we’ve been providing PUR for the longest amount of time, since September 03, and there’s lot going on in the area.

Putting PUR into action in south Sudan

I’m eager to get out into the field after several days of planning with PSI Sudan on the strategy for providing PUR.  We’ve met with quite a few potential partners including UNICEF, Save the Children, USAID, and the Ministry of Health. 

Launching PUR in south Sudan

Today we’re visiting with communities that drink from the Nile River in south Sudan to conduct focus groups.  Our first attempts left us a little puzzled about whether there’s still a perceived need for PUR but instead of trying to figure this out ourselves, we’ve decided to talk to our potential consumers.

Too Late for PUR in south Sudan?

It’s been about a year since I visited south Sudan. 

Students of the World Visit Kenya to Document CSDW

A team of five University of Michigan students visited Kenya in 2008 to document the efforts of our Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program as part of the efforts of Students of the World.  The team consisted of Mike Burke, Mike Lafond, Ange Royall-Kahin, Shay Spaniola, and Amber Williams.  They were joined by my friend, Courtney Spence, the founder of Students of the World.

Congo Children Chant “We Will Drink Only PUR”

Today’s my last day in DR Congo for this trip with our Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program.  I’ve visited with many partners including UNICEF, WHO, USAID, UNDP, Family Health International, the Congo Ministry of Health, the University of North Carolina program for HIV/AIDS, World Vision, Catholic Relief Service, and others.  We are hearing consistently that there is demand for more PUR.  Our partners tell us that people in Congo typically know that their water is not safe and there is a demand for a product like PUR that can make it purified and safe to drink.

Congo Moms Want PUR

I'm in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  It’s been exactly a year since I last visited and the program has really taken off.  My last visit was to the southeast to see PSI’s work to prevent cholera using PUR.  PSI Congo worked with UNICEF, WHO and the local government to provide 6 million liters of safe drinking water in an area with high rates of cholera.  The local Congolese government presented PSI with a commendation of merit for their efforts to save lives using PUR during this outbreak.

The Miracle Called PUR

I’m in Kenya about an hour and a half outside of Nairobi in the community of Kitengola Health Clinic.  I’m visiting my friend Dave Bell and his wife Jennifer.  They work with Christ’s Compassion Ministries and have been working with PUR for several years.  Dave started working with PUR in the Dominican Republic, and then moved to Kenya.  He’s tried several different ways to provide PUR over the last two years.

New Video about PUR Helping People Living with AIDS and P&G Senior Officers Contribute to CSDW

I’m humbled that several of P&G’s senior officers have contributed financially to help us expand our Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program.  This distinguished group includes AG Lafley, CEO and Chairman of the Board; Bob McDonald, COO; Susan Arnold, President Global Business Units: Charlotte Otto, Global External Relations Officer, and Marc Pritchard, CMO.  They’ve committed to contribute each year for three years and chosen a level of contribution equal to P&G’s match per employee per year of $5,000 total to a select group of charities including CSDW.  Every $10,000 donated means an additional 1,000,000 liters of safe drinking water provided to people in need.  To put 1 million liters of safe drinking water in perspective, that’s enough to fill-up 30 tanker trucks with purified water! 

Christian Children's Fund Making an Impact with PUR in Luwero, Uganda

My last visit in Uganda is with Christian Children's Fund (CCF) in Luwero near the town of Iganga in the Central Province.  We started working with CCF in order to expand our efforts to help people with HIV/AIDS by providing safe drinking water.  This is an area of high needs as the people suffered greatly during a long civil war.