Safe water transforms Luta’s life

After suffering the effects of a waterborne disease, new access to clean water is giving young Luta, and many other children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a new outlook on life.

July 2011

By Alain Mwaku. Edited by Chris Clouzet, World Vision U.S.

Luta, 11, and her family collect and enjoy safe water from a borehole installed by World Vision. Luta previously suffered from a skin disease from having to consume dirty water.
Photo: ©2011 Alain Mwaku/World Vision

Luta, 11, suffered for years from a skin disease brought on by drinking unclean well water. For two years, she and her mother went to the hospital for treatments — a difficult time for both of them.

“Luta developed a goiter to the neck while she was always weak, losing weight and appetite,” says Ngoie Muntentu, Luta’s mother.

In the Kasungami area where Luta lives, the lack of clean water required people to access the Lubumbashi River and nearby wells for their water. Local children were especially vulnerable to the waterborne diseases, and the child mortality rate was high.

Unclean water leads to disease

The chief doctor of the Kasungami health zone says that many children were suffering from belly pains, amoebas, diarrhea, and stomach worms. Luta didn’t know what her own sickness was, but she knew she had a headache, and pain in her cheeks.

“Shivering with vertigo, I was weak, day and night sleeping in the bed,” Luta says. Her eyes turned white, and she developed spots on her entire body. Because of her illness, she couldn’t move or attend her classes, either.

Ngoie collects water with her children, Luta and Prince Tshilombo.
Photo: ©2011 Alain Mwaku/World Vision

As with other children, Luta’s case was complex, so World Vision intervened with health fees for intensive medical care to save her life. Her mother remembers the initial struggle, and then the recovery process.

“…I was stressed by my daughter’s sickness until World Vision staff decided to send us to the hospital,” says Ngoie. “After the hospital, people from World Vision brought food and soya beans which helped [Luta] to recover her health quickly.”

World Vision supports the children

Fortunately, the water situation for Luta’s family — and others — is changing. The Kasungami community is working with World Vision to drill boreholes near the houses. People are also being encouraged to use clean water to maintain their children’s good health and reduce frequent illness.

This important project is successfully reducing the spread of waterborne diseases, but there is still work to be done. There are not enough boreholes to cover everyone’s needs and the community continues to request special funds.

Luta shows her beautiful smile. She has recovered from her skin disease and is now back in school.
Photo: ©2011 Alain Mwaku/World Vision

“Boreholes are crowded here,” Ngoie says. “I can draw [five to 10 gallons] of clean water per day, which allow my family to drink and cook the food.” She still uses well water for housework like washing, and separates the drinking water into different containers.

Luta’s life improves

Luta has come a long way and is healthy and happy once again. She attends her fourth-grade classes at the local primary school, constructed and equipped by World Vision in Kasungami, and helps her mother around the house — including fetching water.

“I have been told to always drink good water from the borehole,” she says. “Now I’m strong [enough] to transport water from the borehole and help my mother [do housework] by cleaning plates.”

Luta’s successful recovery and new access to clean water is a blessing. World Vision hopes that many other children in Kasungami will soon have the same experience.

Four ways you can help

Pray for children like Luta in the Congo who must continue to drink contaminated well water and risk suffering the effects of waterborne diseases — possibly for years. Thank God that Luta, and others, have found healing and transformation because of the boreholes that provide clean water.

Make a one-time donation to World Vision’s Clean Water Fund. Your gift will help us develop sources of clean, safe water in communities where waterborne disease is a problem, as well as sanitation systems to help prevent the spread of illness.

Sponsor a child in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Your love and support for a boy or girl in need will help provide essentials like clean water and healthcare.

Give monthly to support our clean water projects around the world. Your monthly contribution will help us bring clean sources of water and sanitation to areas affected by poverty and disease.