Safe water and sanitation are essential for protecting human health during COVID-19. However, many Nicaraguan communities lack access to safe drinking water. Only 52% of Nicaraguans use safely managed drinking water services. By sponsoring clean, safe drinking water for the 23 families of rural San Jose, you can improve the entire community's health, enabling the children to spend time in school - not the health clinic - and empowering their parents to live healthier, more productive lives.
The 23 families in San Jose have lacked access to safe drinking water for years after the community's existing well dried up. Local women have been carrying water from a creek 40 minutes away from their homes for 15 years. Families consume have consumed this water directly without applying any treatments to eliminate possible contamination. This means that many years have passed without community members knowing if illnesses they were facing were possibly the effects of non-potable water.
Local partnering organization ASODELCO (Asociacion para el Desarrollo Local Ecosostenible) agreed to support families in repairing the artisanal well and asked Self-Help International to install a CTI-8 chlorinator which eliminates bacteria from the well's water. They've also asked Self-Help to provide technical monitoring and water purification education. Together, this will reduce the incidence of acute diarrheal disease so families can lead healthier, more productive lives.
Communities experience immediate health benefits from chlorinated water, such as fewer cases of acute diarrhea. The CTI-8 system is durable and easy to repair. Self-Help International staff provide extensive training and follow-up to ensure proper maintenance, and educate residents about hand washing and sanitation practices. Communities with a CTI-8 chlorinator demonstrate higher levels of education and community sensitivity about water and public health long term.
