4 May 2010

In March, the world celebrated World Water Day and in April, World Health Day was held. The two needs, clean water and access to good health care, are actually very interrelated. You can have access to the best health care in the world but it will not be worth much in the long run without access to clean water. Children’s sores (the ones that all children get from playing) need to be cleaned with water that does not carry dangerous microbes or the sores will get infected and require more intensive medical treatment. Many diseases are carried in unclean water – cholera is a major example. The lack of access to water also means that people are less able to practice good hygiene. This can lead to passing internal parasites especially among children. Clean water is very important to daily life, especially to children. Unclean water can lead to water-borne diseases such as cholera, internal parasites not to mention to problems caused by the inability to properly clean wounds and sores.

Blue Mountain Project recognizes this relationship. We have long provided access to health care in the towns of Hagley Gap and Penlyne Castle. Now we are starting a water program in which we hope to bring clean water to the communities of the District of Hagley Gap. Visit our website (www.bluemountainproject.org) to learn more.

Cathy Skoula, Executive Director