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As Aid Groups Focus on Water; Preventable Diseases Plague Billions
March 22 marked this year’s World Water Day; and the World Water Forum sponsored by the World Water Forum took place March 16-23 in Japan. Yet, even as the United Nations, national governments and international aid organizations increase efforts to improve water supplies and sanitation systems in the developing world, nearly half the world’s poor are sick due to water-borne illnesses. World Vision is among those organizations working to bring clean water – and with it, better health, dignity and opportunity – to poor communities. Six months ago, World Vision and several partners began to implement the West Africa Water Initiative, a six-year, $40 million initiative to bring clean water to some 300,000 people in Mali, Niger and Ghana. Work continues as engineers, community health educators, hydro-geologists, environmental planners and community members work to build sanitation and water systems.
“Development begins with clean water,” said Bruce Wilkinson, World Vision’s Senior Vice President for International Programs, who worked 15 years in West Africa. “It’s amazing to see, not only World Vision and its partners, but also the members of these communities working to develop clean water systems here in some of the world’s poorest countries.”
On April 16, World Vision water experts will participate in a conference on water provision in the developing world at the Los Angeles Hilton Airport hotel. Steve Hilton of the Hilton Foundation will host the conference. Panelists will include Dr. Peter Glick, a renowned water expert from the Pacific Institute; Professor Norma Uphoff of Cornell University’s International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development; and World Vision’s Dr. Joe Riverson, Dr. Braimah Apambire (moderator), and Bismark Tetteh, who will serve as the luncheon keynote speaker.
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