Sponsor Valle Arriba-Medicine & Clean Water

Our team puts a lot of time and thought into how we can improve public health in rural Honduras and particularly Valle Arriba.  We decided on providing water filters to this area because it is relatively affordable and because public health experts note that filters can make a significant difference in improving GI health for those who normally would not have access to clean water.

After disseminating filters in Valle Arriba in 2018 (and some additional nearby communities in 2019), we knew that we had to determine whether the filters were working - that the people using the filters were healthier than those who were not.  We collected and analzyed a ton of data and were able to present our results at a conference (Ohio Association of Economists and Political Scientists) at the end of September.  To put it mildly, the results are incredibly positive!

To start off, we wanted to see if the filters could reduce GI symptoms.  Our results say "yes": those using the filters were 39% less likely to complain of diarrhea and stomach aches, and 70% less likely to have recently vomited. 

Of course, tracking symptoms are only one part of a medical brigade - our patients get to see a doctor as well.  Another way we can determine if filters are working is by seeing if they reduce various parasitic and infectious diseases.  Across all patients, those using the filter saw their likelihood of receiving such a diagnosis drop by 48%.  For children, that likelihood dropped by 87%!

So thank you to all who have supported us in bringing clean water to Valle Arriba.  It's working!  The people of the village rave about their "crystal clear water" and are a bit healthier because of the filters.  We're not done providing clean water, though.  There are more people in nearby villages that lack clean water and our goal is to help them out in May.  Stay tuned for our next report!