Archive

2016

In July, 2016 a message was received by International Water and Health Alliances (IWHA) from IWHA President and microbiologist Robert (Bob) Metcalf, who was in Kenya at the time with his wife Dr. Mary Beth Metcalf

Mary Beth and I are back in Nairobi for the week, after a great week in Lower Nyakach, staying at Dinah Chienjo’s home and visiting the FOTO project.

Dinah is the founder of the Friends of the Old (FOTO) project. FOTO was established in part to support a safe water project that includes training individuals in remote villages to test their own water resources with the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML) developed by Bob Metcalf to detect the bacteria Escherichia Coli (E-coli). This bacteria is associated with water borne diseases including Typhoid, Cholera and Diarrhea. Those trained in detection are also taught how to make water safe by using simple cardboard and aluminum foil solar cookers which they make themselves to pasteurize water. They are also taught to make contaminated water safe through treatment with a chlorine based product (Aguaguard) to kill the bacteria. This product is also provided along with the PML to community residents by IWHA with the help of donor support. In addition, participants in the program have also received improved cook stoves, a hot pot or hay basked for maintaining food temperature after it has been removed from the solar cooker. Village residents have also received improved seed and reading glasses which has enabled them to start small local businesses such as creating and repairing clothing.

 We visited 18 grandparent households, participated in a reading glasses distribution in Nyalunya, shared water testing methods with students at Ragen Secondary school and with half a dozen school principals, and met with chiefs from 10 locations. In all visits and conversations, we were told that ‘stomach problems’ were absent with FOTO’s strategy of testing, teaching, and provision of Aquaguard to all households and schools. I was reminded of what extreme poverty was like, but encouraged that waterborne diseases no longer plague the 70,000 people of Lower Nyakach. IWHA’s support has enabled this.

I just received an article that was sent to all IDEXX staff members around the world on July 9th. It reflects how supportive IDEXX is of the effort to bring world-class microbiology to the poorest places on the planet, as a key step towards eliminating waterborne diseases.

 IDEXX is one of two U.S. companies from which IWHA purchases water testing materials (the Colilert test) that are included in the PML. The other company from which IWHA purchases testing materials is 3M which manufactures the Petrifilm. Bob has asked that the article referenced above be added to the IWHA web site. He also sends Kenya greeting to all who read this article.

Download the PDF of the July 2016 Metcalf Update Here:

Metcalf Update July 2016

2015 Kenya Cholera Outbreak and Response

Dinah Chienjo, Director of  the FRIENDS OF THE OLD (FOTO) program which is supported by International Water and Health Alliances (IWHA) recently  reported on the February outbreak of Cholera in Migori and Homa Bay Counties in Kenya.

The following photograph shows part of the Department of Nyakatch, Kenya. Katito is the location of the IWHA office. The outbreak of cholera occurred in Migori and Homa Bay counties which are to the left or west of Katito.

INTRODUCTION

In February, Kenyan newspapers reported a cholera outbreak in Migori and Homa Bay Counties. Initial reports indicated there were 7 fatalities and 140 people were admitted to the Cholera Treatment Centre for treatment and for clinical observation. (Additional information regarding those affected as reported by Relief Web will be included later in this report.) IWHA President, Dr. Robert Metcalf, became aware of the outbreak online and spoke directly with Dinah Chienjo and his friend, Dr. Kepha Ombacho, National Director for Public Health and Sanitation, Kenya Ministry of Health.  Dr. Metcalf suggested to Ministry Director, Dr. Ombacho that FOTO staff could help alleviate the current cholera outbreak because of their ability to carry out water testing and water treatment effectively to prevent spread of the disease.  The offer to assist was accepted and Dr. Metcalf sent funds to provide travel and expenses for FOTO staff and testing and treatment materials. Following a discussion between Dr. Ombacho and Dinah Chienjo, four members of the FOTO team initially traveled to the community of Rongo in Migori County.

Additional information to follow…

The FOTO and Ministry team                         Explaining cholera, how it is spread and                                                                                         controlled.

Collecting water samples                                 Preparing water samples for testing

Following overnight testing, the samples of water are found to contain high levels of Escherichia Coli or E-coli associated with cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and polio. The decision is to treat the drinking water with Waterguard which is a chlorine product to kill the bacteria. Once treated the water can be used for safe drinking water.

The followup will be additional training of community residents in water testing and treatment. Community representatives will also keep the the Ministry of Health informed of any additional cases of cholera. Community leaders trained in testing and treatment will also travel to additional communities to train others in these techniques. Community members and FOTO staff will meet with Ministry of Health officials to discuss future distribution of chlorine treatment products such as Waterguard.  A 25 cent (U.S.) bottle of this product will treat 1000 liters of water and help to prevent the spread of cholera.

The cost of testing materials is approximately 70 U.S. dollars and provides a total of 50 tests for E-coli.  The kit for testing is referred to a Portable Microbiology laboratory (PML). Almost anyone, regardless of their educational background can be taught to use the PML in about 3 to 4 hours. The Ministry of Health is encouraged to obtain these tests for use in the field.

All testing materials within the PML kit fit in a gallon size zip lock bag. Those materials include 25 Petrifilm tests by 3M, 25 Colilert tests by IDEXX, 25 water collecting bags, 25 pipettes, infrared battery powered light, spreader to evenly spread water sample on Petrifilm, marker to identify water sample source.

2014

In March, Friends of the Old (FOTO) Director, Dinah Chienjo was invited to speak at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Her presence was co-sponsored by the professional women’s association, Soroptimist International. The title of Dinah’s presentation was Solar Cooking: Power to Change Women’s Lives.  She also participated in a second presentation titled, Achieving Equal Access for Women to Technology and Employment. This event was co-hosted by the International Council of Jewish Women.

In September, IWHA President Robert Metcalf was invited to give a presentation in Lisbon, Portugal at the World Water Conference titled, Shaping our Water Future. The talk was directed to planning officials and  water professionals from all parts of the world.  Highlighted in the presentation was the IWHA supported Friends of  the Old (FOTO) project in Kenya and water testing and treatment using the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML).  A hands-on demonstration of the water testing procedure and an instructional poster highlighting the testing procedure was also prepared for participants.

2013

Patrick Widner, Executive Director of IWHA was invited by Habitat for Humanity to provide water testing training in Haiti. The participants included members of the Habitat for Humanity Disaster Response Team. In addition, the Simon Pele community organization also received training.

Kenya

Thereare 12 locations in the FOTO project. Each location has a Village Access Facilitator (VAF). The VAFs travel throughout their location, teaching groups, schools, and villages about Safe Water Practices, water testing, water treatment including pasteurization, distributing WaterGuard, safe water packages, reading glasses, certified sorghum seeds and following up with recipients to ensure that the people served get full benefit from FOTO programs. In order to do these effectively they must walk long distances on foot, reaching everywhere within their locations. To enable the VAFs to get around their location without walking, donors to the International Water and Health Alliances (IWHA) provided funds to purchase a sturdy bicycle for each VAF. The bicycles arrived on Wednesday 13th February. It was one of the happiest moments in FOTO’s existence, with the VAFs singing, jubilating and dancing. They have been hoping and waiting that one day this would happen and truly it did happen. The bicycles will improve FOTO’s services in Lower Nyakach to improve the lives of the vulnerable. Many thanks to IWHA and the donors of the bicycles.

Kenya

December 25, 2012

NAREWAMA Director Faustine Odaba just sent a note about a recently completed training program that addresses the issue of waste management.  This training highlights the relationship  waste management has to hygiene, sanitation and clean water to improve health.  By carefully managing waste products, participants in the program can also learn methods of recycling to increase income through the creation and sale of useful products such as rope, baskets, purses and items for community residents and tourists.

FOTO Director, Dinah Chienjo also sent photos from a recent distribution of Water Guard, a chlorine based product used to kill E-coli and other bacteria and viruses. At present, IWHA provides Water Guard to 9600 families totaling 40000 people each month. A bottle of this product costs 25 U.S. cents and will treat 1000 liters of water. Recent Ministry of Health statistics from the communities where this product is distributed show a marked decrease in the number of cases of diarhrea as a result of using this product.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

For two weeks in Nov-Dec, IWHA President, Bob Metcalf was in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at the request of Management Sciences for Health where he led a workshop on water testing in a rural area, Lodja, Sankuru District, ~800 km east of Kinshasa, for 21 staff members who are part of a five-year USAID-funded Integrated Health Project (PROSANI).

In addition to welcoming the Portable Microbiology Laboratory tests for water testing, people responded enthusiastically to the demonstration of the Cookit to pasteurize water and cook food. The sun beats down 9 months a year in the DRC, but nobody used it to cook or pasteurize water.

While in the Democratic Republic of Congo , Bob shared the water testing/solar methods with the International Rescue Committee, UNICEF, Population Services International, and the Director of the Ministry of Health, DRC. The PROSANI staff member who invited Bob to come to the DRC, Dr. Simeon Kenfack, will follow up with these organizations, and with the Lodja workshop participants, who have the materials for 25,000 Colilert and Petrifilm tests.

Central America

August-September

The latter part of 2012 has been a very productive period for IWHA. One of the results of IWHA presence in the region is that approximately 400 people have been trained in testing  drinking water for E-coli and in the construction and use of simple solar cookers for pasteurization of water and cooking. The majority of people trained in Central America are leaders in their rural communities, appointed by local water committees. As a follow up to the training they received, they will conduct workshops based on what they have learned in association with IWHA using testing materials and information provided by IWHA.

Additional training and new alliances have also been part of the experience of IWHA in Africa. You can see an update on this web site about the most recent training in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Costa Rica

In early August, Executive Director, Patrick Widner traveled to Central America at the request of Habitat for Humanity (HFH). The interest of HFH was two fold, to learn how to use the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML) to detect E-coli in water and then how to treat the water to make it safe for drinking. The second interest was how to construct and use solar cookers for pasteurization of water and for cooking.

The first stop was the HFH office in Costa Rica which oversees programs in 16 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Additional training programs were scheduled at the request of  HFH for Nicaragua,Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. During those subsequent training sessions, food was prepared and cooked in the solar cookers and water was also pasteurized.

In addition to training members of the HFH headquarters staff and regional extension staff,  a visit was also made to a rehabilitation center and residence not far from the HFH headquarters.  A workshop in solar cooker construction and treatment of contaminated water took place there for residents, their families and other visitors.

Nicaragua

The next stop was to meet with representatives of CARE International in Managua, Nicaragua.  Earlier in the year, IWHA had trained staff of CARE working in the Project My Water Shed program in multiple sites in Nicaragua and Honduras. It was CARE’s  interest to have IWHA continue to collaborate in that programs and to implement training in other areas as well.

Two hours away by vehicle, CARE staff had arranged two days of workshops in the area of Matagalpa so that they could learn to test and treat water and to construct and use simple solar cookers for water pasteurization and cooking.  Also represented at the workshops were members of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) staff in addition to representatives of the Ministry of Health and functionaries of regional municipalities. Ministry representatives expressed interest in having additional training programs for their staff.  A recently arrived Peace Corps Volunteer from Pennsylvania also participated in the training.

The procedure  in most sites where both water testing and solar cooker workshops were planned was to test water samples the first day so that they could be incubated over night. In this way, participants could see the results of testing and to ask any questions they might have about procedures. Two days or more of workshops at each site also allowed evaluation of the training. Cardboard boxes to be used in the construction of solar cookers had been collected by CARE prior to the workshops.

Water samples were brought by trainees from their communities. One young woman said that she had left her home at 3:30 A.M. to participate. In addition to water samples brought by trainees, water samples were also collected from streams on the way to the CARE rural training site.

The photo below shows solar cookers being constructed of cardboard and aluminum foil near the town of Matagalpa, Nicaragua.

Matagalpa

The next stop was to conduct training for HFH in the area of Masachapa about 2 and 1/2 hours southwest of Matagalpa. Attendees included a group of dynamic women leaders from the community of La Gallina about 45 minutes by vehicle from Masachapa.

The photo below shows women from the Nicaraguan village of La Gallina with some of the cookers they made. Many of these women are also involved in producing new housing sponsored by HFH built with blocks made from soil, sand and very little cement. The young woman at bottom right operates a gasoline powered generator used in fabricating the blocks. In addition to constructing houses, the women have also learned to build composting latrines.

One of the benefits of learning to solar cook is that you get to eat the assignment.

La Gallina and Masachapa

El Salvador

The city of Ahuachapan is about 12o kilometers northwest of the San Salvador national airport.  The city is known for natural hot springs and at one time, hot water was piped directly to some buildings, institutions and even pools. That innovative use of water was altered generations ago to meet other needs.  The rural populations within an hour or two of this city continue to draw water from streams, wells and in some cases, from municipal water projects.  Habitat for Humanity (HFH)  invited IWHA to meet with regional leaders of rural water committees that receive administrative services from Ahuachapan.

The regional office of HFH is located on the outskirts of the city and is a typical block building not unlike many of the HFH houses they help to finance and construct. Our training site was a community meeting center and was colorfully decorated with very nice murals painted by local artists and students. While at the site, elementary age school children were being served breakfast. Later in the day, an older student gave an English class to students.  HFH staff brought water samples to test and we also stopped on the way to the site to collect more water. One source was from a well maintained by the municipality. There were different opinions as to when the well was last inspected. The road on the way to the school passed a spigot that several individuals were using to fill a variety of water containers. Training participants helped to test all of these samples and the results were made known to participants.

The solar cooker workshop that took place included a doctor from the Ministry of Health. She was interested in scheduling an additional workshop in water testing for her colleagues.  She also saw the benefits of using the solar cooker to reduce indoor smoke pollution.

Ahuachapan, El Salvador

Guatemala

HFH staff from different regions sent delegates to be trained in the historic city of Antigua. Because individuals were to train others after learning water testing and how to make solar cookers,  training sessions were video taped to be used later in training others.

Following identification of water samples, participants prepare the Colilert and Petrifilm tests. The next step is overnight incubation and then interpretation of the results.

The same group of HFH participants and representatives of rural community groups met the second day of training to begin instruction in solar cooking. Most of the cookers constructed throughout Central America were made of discarded grocery boxes and aluminum foil. After tracing a pattern onto the cardboard and cutting out the shape, glue was applied and sheet aluminum foil was attached. Folds were made in the cardboard during construction to present the best angles to reflect the sun’s rays and provide stability when the cooker was set up. Other materials needed included a cutter of some sort to cut the cardboard and wide tape to join sections of cardboard. A moist cloth was also used to help smooth the foil and to remove excess glue.

Antigua, Guatemala

Honduras

The first stop in Honduras was the HFH office in the San Pedro Sula. It is a city known for industry including factories where clothing is sewn for foreign markets. Unlike other training programs on this trip, it was not necessary to use cardboard boxes to make solar cookers. Large sheets of cardboard were available from a box maker and it was possible to make two cookers from each sheet.

Following a training session to explain the portable microbiology laboratory (PML), a review took place the next day. What followed was a solar cooker workshop to construct them and use them to cook and pasteurize water.

  Nice job everybody!

Have a taste! Good, eh?                                  Saludos, your HFH friends in Honduras.

San Pedro Sula, Honduras

In addition to the work with HFH, IWHA collaborated again with CARE International in training both staff and rural residents as a follow up to PML training that took place in April and May.  The first stage of a program called Project My Watershed (PMW) financed by the Global Water Initiative and implemented by both CARE and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was scheduled to be completed on September 20. That stage of completion incorporated PML training and water testing to coincide with the Executive Director’s visit. Participants brought water samples from their principal sources of drinking water and tested those so that they could report the findings to their fellow community residents. Additional testing materials were also provided to participants so that they could demonstrate the testing process upon returning to their communities. An evaluation of training was also included in that process.  Additional training related to sanitation and hygiene as it relates to clean water was discussed with rural water committees.

A total of about 400 individuals were trained during the month long visit to Central America. In addition to representatives from the agencies mentioned above, trainees also represented local water committees, government agencies such as the Ministry of Health in all countries as well as water and sanitation organizations. The cooperative training center COCEPRADII (Comite Central pro agua Desarollo Integral de Intibuca) also hosted a training program for their staff in Honduras which provides assistance in community development and safe water to approximately 250 community water committees.

The description above of the purpose of CEPRADILL emphasizes the relationship between clean water, sanitation and hygiene and is consistent with the objectives of IWHA.

CEPRADILL

Within Honduras, some of the training sessions took place in Native American communities located in the departments of Lempira and Intibuca populated by the Lenca people.

Yamanaguila

As a result of the relationships and work completed with CARE International and Habitat for Humanity, IWHA has been asked to sign formal agreements of future collaboration with both institutions. Those agreements will be implemented in 2013.

Sometimes people ask, How do you get to  the rural communities where you work?  The answer is, sometimes agency or government vehicle, bus, truck or on foot.  Motorcycles are another popular mode of transportation in Central America.  All ways of travel provide opportunities to meet hard working people and wonderful families.

The foot bridge above is located between Honduras and El Salvador. While adults tread lightly, the concern of some residents is that children not fall through the bridge into the river. Repairs are underway on this particular bridge.

Flooding earlier in the year required that a new bridge be built near the training site of Osolingo.

Osolingo

 My gracious host back from milking.

Guarita

The river Mocal is the source of much of the drinking water used by many villages. If left untreated it can be a source of the bacteria E-coli which causes illnesses such as diarrhea.

There are a number of ways to make water safe to drink including heating it to the pasteurization temperature of 149, treating it with chlorine or similar product or filtration. Above you see a simple BioSand filter. Some methods are better than others. The best way to make water safe to drink is to heat it to pasteurization. This process can use traditional methods of heating water or water can be heated in a simple solar cooker. This latter approach is especially important to consider in places of limited fuel or where fuel gathering can be harmful to the environment such as the regional watershed. Regardless of the method used to make water safe, it is always advisable to test it for E-coli after treatment.

Candelaria, Lempira

The chicken was there to get out of the rain.

El Sauce

San Marcos

IWHA will be back in Central America in January 2013 to continue training in the use of the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML). We are also excited about the possibility of formalized relationships with CARE International, Catholic Relief Services and Habitat for Humanity.

As Executive Director of IWHA, I would like to thank my colleague Bob Metcalf and Doctor Mary Beth Metcalf for their support. I also thank our donors for their generosity. The training would not have taken place without your contributions. It is also important to thank all of those individuals who helped to provide logistical support, the occasional plate of rice and beans or as it is known in Central America, ‘Pico de Gallo’. I also thank Alfonso Nunez for keeping us on the road and the hospitality of his family in Guarita.

Rwanda

July 27

Following training programs and visits to IWHA beneficiaries in Kenya, IWHA President Metcalf traveled to Rwanda at the invitation of UN Habitat.

On to Rwanda

Preparing Colilert and Petrifilm tests and tabulating results

While in Rwanda, President Metcalf taught a workshop in conjunction with UN Habitat that focused on simple and effective methods of testing the quality of drinking water using the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML).  In addition, workshop participants discussed ways to treat water to make it safe to drink.  They were each given a water pasteurization indicator (WAPI) fabricated by IWHA and taught how to use the device to determine when water has been pasteurized and heated sufficiently to kill dangerous bacteria and viruses.

The photos above show IWHA President Robert Metcalf and Dr. Mary Beth Metcalf next to a banner that promotes the ‘National Workshop on Water Quality Surveillance’ organized by UN Habitat in collaboration with the Rwandan Ministry of Health and presented by IWHA representative Metcalf.  The second photo shows workshop participants who came from all 23 country districts, Robert and Mary Beth Metcalf and UN Habitat representative Lars Onsager Stordal.

Workshop participant Pascal Ngoga with the WAPI he received following training with Robert Metcalf.

The following is a verbatim message received July 24 from IWHA President Metcalf who is currently in the country of Rwanda training UN-Habitat (UN Human Settlement’s Programme)  staff.

Today I had a very good first day of a three day workshop in Butare, Rwanda. It was for 43 environmental health staff members in the Ministry of Health. They came from all 23 districts in the country. The workshop is sponsored by UN-Habitat. We expect the Ministry of Health will recognize the transforming possibility of the Portable Microbiology Laboratory tests to bring water testing to the community level throughout the country, and be the first country to include the PML tests as part of their Water Safety Plan.

Kenya

July

President Robert Metcalf traveled to Kenya on July 11 to meet representatives of NAREWAMA and FOTO, the two Kenyan programs supported by IWHA. Other objectives of the trip were to meet with beneficiaries of the programs and to visit communities where training in safe water practices and reading glasses distribution has taken place.

Above photos show Robert Metcalf with FOTO staff and volunteers. The FOTO project office is located in Katitio, near Kisumu and Lake Victoria, 1° south of equator. Demonstrating technique to use Colilert water test.

FOTO staff brought 51 water sources to test using  Colilert and Petrifilm.

The above water samples were analyzed with the Petrifilm test. All samples in the left photo show colonies of the bacteria Escherichia coli which are indicated by the dark blue spots. The sample shown in the second photo is a water sample with colonies of Eschereichia coli. The Petrifilm on the far right shows the same water after being treated with the chlorine based product WaterGuard. The product kills the bacteria and makes the water safe to drink.

On the following Sunday after arrival in Nairobi, President Metcalf met with Dinah Chienjo, Director of FOTO and volunteers in addition to the FOTO Board of Directors in Kisumu, the second largest city in Kenya and home of FOTO.  Prior to his visit, residents in the area were asked to bring in water sources from their community the following Monday for testing to determine if the drinking water contained the bacteria Escherichia Coli (E coli).

Additionally, 430 pairs of reading glasses were distributed to seniors in the area of Kandaria West this past past Tuesday.  The photo below shows seniors with their new reading glasses and reading the Standard newspaper.

President Metcalf returned to Nairobi on Wednesday to meet with Faustine Odaba, founder of NAREWAMA and to visit beneficiaries of that program. One of the purposes of the visit will be to see the process NAREWAMA uses to recycle discarded plastic into usuable items such as rope and durable shopping bags. By reusing this plastic, less of the material goes into water sources such as rivers and streams, and at the same time, provides a means by which residents can produce a salable product.

Jan-May 2012

Friends of the Old (FOTO) is a community based organization in Western Kenya which functions primarily in the region of Nyakach and supports senior citizens and their grand children. The death of the parents of these children by HIV/AIDs has shifted the responsibility of raising children to the surviving grandparents. While IWHA is principally concerned about the well being of children, this all too common arrangement of grand children and their grand parents living together has encouraged IWHA to become more involved with the health of this older generation as well.

IWHA supports the efforts of FOTO with material and the financial means to promote good health practices through the distribution of Safe Water Packages which include solar cookers and pots, improved fuel efficient stoves, a clean water storage container for the home, a stand on which to place it and a fire-less cooker that maintains solar cooked food hot for hours.

    

    Safe water package                       Solar cooker to cook and pasteurize water

To gather fuel in this environment requires a foraging trip of four to six hours two or three times a week. This difficult task is especially arduous for the older generation. The solar cooker helps to decrease the requirement of searching for fuel and at the same time is less damaging to the environment. In parts of Nyakach only one percent of the trees remain that existed fifty years ago. Another benefit of the solar cooker is that it can also be used to pasteurize water to prevent disease. One third of the world population still cooks over open fires which contributes to indoor pollution. Resulting respiratory illnesses from this practice causes more deaths than malaria.

 

FOTO also provides training to community participants to test water for the presence of Escherichia Coli (E•coli) using the simple, inexpensive and effective Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML).  Additional educational efforts are concerned with treatment of unclean water, solar water pasteurization, sanitation and hygiene.

  

This past year, IWHA has also provided more than 7000 pounds of certified seed corn to help supplement the diet of many families associated with FOTO. Through the distribution of two liter bags of improved seed corn, families can plant, cultivate and harvest their own crop with the guidance of Ministry of Agriculture agronomists. Because the principal food staple of the people is ugali, a corn based food cooked as mush or porridge, the seeds are very welcome.

  A time to grow 

Discussions with seniors also pointed out the difficulty many have with their vision. Remarks were made among FOTO participants that it was no longer possible to thread a needle, read a newspaper or help grandchildren with their studies. Responding to this need, IWHA began sending reading glasses to FOTO.  In 2011, IWHA donated 1,924 reading glasses to FOTO and so far in 2012, IWHA has sent 1,220 reading glasses.

In a very generous action, school children in Davis,California held a fund raiser to provide glasses and ship them to Kenya. This effort was initiated by the Davis Sunset Rotary Club who contacted the principal of Willett Elementary School. When told about the opportunity to help others, students then raised approximately 1100 dollars, enough for 540 pairs of glasses and shipping.

How long would it take to get there?   Thank you Willett students and Bob Metcalf

A significant effort this year is that IWHA provided funding for the purchase and distribution of the product Water Guard to treat water contaminated with E•coli. A single bottle of Water Guard purchased in Kenya for just 25 cents a bottle can treat 1000 liters of water. Ten thousand bottles of Water Guard were purchased, enough to treat 10,000,000 liters of water.  This water treatment effort is on going and will help to prevent diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera and incidents of diarrhea. A capful of the chlorine based product is added to the 20 liter water container that is part of the IWHA Safe Water Package.

 

These efforts have been successful to a large extent because of the FOTO director Dinah Chienjo, the volunteers who work in the education programs and the generosity of our donors including the President of IWHA.  We thank them all for their dedicated efforts to work with others and to help save lives and decrease incidents of disease.

Kenya

April

ReliefWeb is a web site that provides information to humanitarian relief organizations and is administered by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).  Beginning in April, ReliefWeb reported that heavy rains caused flash floods across Kenya. While initially reporting that 42 people had died in April and 20,000 displaced, rains continued into the month of May. By then 100,000 people had been displaced, 65 killed and at the end of the month approximately 250,000 had been affected by the rain.

Friends of the Old (FOTO) staff member Pamella Otieno requested that her location of residence, West Nyakach, be considered for Water Guard (a chlorine based water treatment product) distribution as the area was thoroughly flooded and people had to move from their homes to evacuation centers where they were given food and tents.

While temporary shelter had been provided to the displaced, a much needed intervention was missing: safe drinking water. Women were using untreated water for drinking that came from flood runoff.  As a result, many people were experiencing stomach disorders including diarrhea.

IWHA provides total support for the work of FOTO in other regions of Nyakach although FOTO had not yet operated in the West Nyakach region. After a telephone conversation with the IWHA President regarding the emergency health needs of the people living there, an immediate decision was made to send funds to purchase and distribute WaterGuard to 3500 families in three relief camps on May 11.

This cost of this liquid product which is subsidized in Kenya by Population Services International (PSI) is very inexpensive at twenty five cents a bottle. A 150 milliliter bottle (about 5 and 3/4 ounces) is sufficient to treat 1000 liters (264 gallons) of water. The user adds a capful  of WaterGuard to a 20 liter (about 5 1/4 U.S. gallons) container of water which is the most common size in the region for collecting water. The user then mixes the product and water to produce safe drinking water. Depending on the use of the treated water, size of the family and frequency of use, a bottle of the product will usually last 2-3 months. The treated water is intended to be used specifically for drinking and is not used for all purposes such as washing clothing.  Provision of WaterGuard is an ongoing activity of IWHA.

The total number of families that have received WaterGuard to date is 15,500 including those displaced by flooding.

One recipient said: “We are very grateful for IWHA and FOTO assistance. Without the Water Guard we would have faced a disaster.”

Central America

March-April , 2012

At the request of CARE International and regional water committees that had worked with the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), the IWHA Executive Director traveled to Honduras and Nicaragua. The primary purpose of the trip was to conduct training workshops to teach individuals to use the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML) to analyze water for the presence of Escherichia Coli (E•coli). A second purpose of the workshops was to also discuss appropriate methods of water treatment for water not suitable for drinking.

In March, Valle de Angeles, Honduras was the first stop to train representatives of thirteen rural water committees, members of the Ministry of Health and delegates from the municipality.

Prior to IWHA training, the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) based in Costa Rica implemented the Forcuencas Two effort called the Learning and Communication for the Adaptive Co-Management of Watersheds program in four watershed areas, two in Honduras and two in Nicaragua. One of those watershed areas is Valle de Angeles located about one hour by road from the capital city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras at an altitude of 4200 feet. The watershed area has a population of approximately 14,000. The region is characterized by little available water part of the year and is also subject to water contamination of potable water because of periodical flooding. There is a dichotomy between urban pressure from the capital city and rural poverty.  The Swedish International Cooperation Development Agency (SIDA) financed the efforts of CATIE to develop a plan for the use and maintenance of the regional watershed. Taking part in this effort were representatives of all of those who benefit from the regional watershed and wanted to see it managed in an equitable way.  Planning participants included subsistence farmers, livestock producers, agencies such as the forestry department, non-profit organizations and government agencies that established land use policies.

IWHA training provided another element to help farmers and government agencies assess their drinking water on an on going basis in an inexpensive and effective manner and to take appropriate steps to maintain quality. Residents from surrounding communities were encouraged to bring samples of their drinking water for testing during the training session. IWHA also provided samples of testing materials so farmers could return home to test their own water sources.

Congratulations Valle de Angeles!

Copan Ruinas, an ancient capital city of the Mayans in Honduras was the site of the next IWHA training.  This second watershed area within the CATIE Forcuencas project covers an area of 619 square miles and has a population of about 69,000. As in Valle de Angeles, training participants represented subsistence farmers, government agencies, cattle producers and foresters. Eight water committees sent representatives in addition to trainees from four municipalities which formed a cooperative planning agency called MANCORSARIC.

IWHA is also concerned about the need to balance the need for clean drinking water with sound sanitation and hygienic practices.  As one approaches growing population areas it is clear that the rivers are used as dumping sites for garbage and waste materials. It is not uncommon to see vast amounts of trash in expanding urban areas throughout the world for which no provision has been made for appropriate disposal or processing.

Not only does this practice contaminate water that is used for drinking, but it also forms a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and disease. The practice of dumping waste also contributes to the degradation of habitat for fish and water fowl and causes damage to the water shed.

When working with the local water committees in both rural and peri-urban areas one is impressed by the sense of growing awareness of the need to protect water sources and the bearing this has on health.  The commitment to creating a better environment is also reflected in the education programs carried out by extension workers in schools and community meetings.  .

It is not necessary that participants have any formal education to be taught the IWHA techniques of testing and interpreting the results of water testing for E • coli.  The process stresses practical hands on training over a period of 3-4 hours and is easily understood by most people.

Well done Copan water committees and MANCORSARIC!

Matagalpa, Nicaragua is approximately 80 miles north of Managua, Nicaragua and was the site of the next IWHA training session.

Coffee marketing cooperatives are a common sight between the capital and Matagalpa. Processing this important crop requires that by-products and waste materials be kept out of water ways so as not to cause pollution and damage to habitat. Waste water from the process is referred to locally as ‘yellow water’.

The second photo shows the delicious and healthy variety of produce grown in the region including melons, papaya, oranges, pineapples and mangoes.

On the two hour bus ride to Matagalpa, a young mother explained that she was feeding her seven month old son with soft, solid foods and powdered formula. While breast feeding children is encouraged, mothers who live in urban or peri-urban areas often take a job outside of the home. This circumstance  presents a challenge for many to breast feed.  As in many countries, grand parents and extended family members usually care for the children while the mother is working.

Another passenger talked about the pollution in Lake Managua and the absence of waste water treatment plants. He said that there is one plant but it is not currently in service.

The invitation to go to Matagalpa came from representatives of CARE International, one of the members of the Global Water Initiative (GWI), a program established and financed by Howard Buffet.

GWI in Central America is called Proyecto Mi Cuenca, translated “Project My Watershed,” and is a consortium led by Catholic Relief Services in partnership with CARE, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and 10 local nongovernmental organizations, with operations in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Using the conceptual framework of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), the objectives of Proyecto Mi Cuenca are to improve the ability of rural communities to cope with water-related occurances (such as droughts, floods, landslides, and conflicts), ensure water security for rural communities, and foster an enabling environment to promote and expand the participation of the least economically able to also take part in water resource management in Central America.

With these objectives in mind, GWI interventions in Central America included:  protecting and improving water sources, strengthening local governance for water resources,  building local capacity to build and maintain water supply infrastructure and promoting hygiene and sanitation in communities, particularly focused on children and women.

The role of IWHA in this environment was to train representatives of nine water committees within the Project My Watershed program and Ministry of Health representatives to enhance their ability to manage water quality. One of the realities of this area is that rural communities have little access to water testing because of the lack of professional personnel and the cost of testing. By using the Portable Microbiology Laboratory provided by IWHA they can now test their own water.

One of the added benefits of the IWHA training programs is that concerns about water safety and treatment can be discussed in a positive setting.  A participant drew a sketch of his community’s water system and invited discussion about how to make it more effective. A demonstration was also made of a device that measures residual chlorine in treated water.  A Ministry of Health representative described a recent outbreak of cholera following flooding. He said that the response was to dump large quantities of chlorine in the river from which many people obtain their water. That experience led to suggestions as to what more appropriate actions might be in the future.  One of the staff members of CARE also demonstrated to IWHA trainees graphic teaching materials that she uses in her education programs.

Excellent work Matagalpa!

 

The next training stop was the Universidad Nacional de Agricultura, Honduras (UNA) located just a few miles beyond Catacamas, Honduras.  In March, 2012, the university was the site of the VII World Summit Against Hunger. The international event was attended by more than 200 representatives of international universities and nongovernmental organizations from countries within the Americas, Europe and Africa.  The purpose of the VII World Summit was to formulate and develop strategies within academia to help reduce world malnutrition rates.

The central theme of the Summit was malnutrition and food security. According to figures from the World Food Programme, (WFP), 200 thousand children suffer from malnutrition in Honduras, most of them in the Department of Lempira.

According to the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture, FAO, nearly six million people suffer from malnutrition in Central America, which represents 14.2% of the population of that region.

IWHA was invited by the head of the Natural Resources Department at UNA to train fourth year students prior to their summer graduation.  At 7 A.M. an enthusiastic group of students decked out in their uniforms shared new knowledge of the  Portable Microbiology Laboratory with their colleagues. In the discussion that took place later, both students and professors expressed the thought that the training could be incorporated into future field work.  This intention was consistent with the recommendations of the VII World Summit Against Hunger.

Red Cross Juticalpa, Honduras

After returning to Juticalpa from Catacamas, a meeting was held with Red Cross, FAMA, and community council representatives of San Pedro de las Joyas, Departmento Olancho. The purpose of the meeting was to seek approval, which was given, to conduct a community water and health survey prior to the implementation of a health, sanitation and hygiene education program in the community. In addition to the administrator and technical representative for the Red Cross in Juticalpa, the meeting was also attended by the energetic and enthusiastic 80 year old President of the Red Cross in Juticalpa.

Prior to this meeting, IWHA had trained staff and volunteers of the Red Cross in Juticalpa to use the PML. Water testing training will be provided to the San Pedro de las Joyas community as part of the education program mentioned above.

During the visit to San Pedro de las Joyas water samples were taken from the Juticalpa river, a principal source of drinking water for families not linked to a piped in water system.  The bridge pictured above was washed away during recent flooding and some families were displaced as a result of this recent occurrence.

While the Executive Director was at the Red Cross office in Juticalpa, a Red Cross volunteer came to the office with her daughter. The mother explained that her daughter had asthma and was having difficulty breathing. Within the community there are two Nebulizers that can be used by the public, one at the Red Cross and another at the hospital. When these institutions are closed, it presents a problem for those in need of the device. The daughter was able to use the apparatus at the Red Cross which eased her breathing difficulties.

 IWHA purchased an additional Nebulizer and asked the Red Cross volunteer coordinator to work out a system to share the device with others who will need it in the future. The equipment without medication was reasonably priced at less than 60 dollars.

In considering equipment and material to help alleviate the breathing problems described, pediatrician, Dr. Mary Beth Metcalf provided valuable thoughts to IWHA about the use of devices such as Nebulizers and possible practices to help alleviate some breathing problems.  IWHA is currently looking into the availability of obtaining albuterol inhalers with spacers and also steroid inhalers. IWHA has also determined what materials are currently available in country that help to provide relief from breathing distress.

All actions that IWHA takes regarding needs in this area are consistent with approved medical policies and guidelines in countries where IWHA works. Often in rural clinics or health centers these materials are not available because of the lack of funds for purchase.

The second site in Honduras where the Proyecto Mi Cuenca was being implemented was Yamaranguila and the next training stop. The community is located at approximately 5000 feet in the Departmento de Intibuca about 12 to 15 kilometers from the town of La Esperanza. The open market in La Esperanza serves the surrounding villages and is very busy most days of the week. Climbing above the town one can see roads cutting through the pine forests leading to many communities. Intibuca is the home of the native Lenca people who existed in this part of the company before the arrival of the Spaniards.

Upon arrival in Yamaranguila there were lines of people waiting to see the mayor who receives residents of the area two days a week without prior appointments.

Participants in this training included representatives from the School of Forestry, the Lenca community and approximately nine regional water committees. The president of the regional water committee association said there were representatives of about 30 committees not present at the training because of  late scheduling. The Executive Director will return to this area in June or July to conduct additional training sessions for more water committees.

In addition to providing PMLs to organizations such as the Ministry of Health and CARE for the Projecto Mi Cuenca, IWHA also provides tests  to individual committee members so they can conduct analysis of their home water sources.

The lady in the first row, far right in the pink cap is a member of the Lenca community. She walked 2  1/2 hours to attend the training.  Thank you for your contribution to this activity and for coming so far.

The IWHA Executive Director would like to thank our donors and all who helped to make this trip possible. The list includes those who assisted in the logistics of notifying participants and arranging meeting locations and those who took time to attend the training. Appreciation is also extended to representatives of non governmental organizations who took part including present and former employees of CATIE, CARE International, FAMA, UNAH, the National Forestry School, the Red Cross, Ministries of Health and municipal representatives. Special thanks to Gloria and my daughters, Alejandro Lozano, Gina, Nimsi, Oscar, Alex, Hans, Bob and Mary Beth Metcalf and always to Zoila Alvarez and  Daniel Ball.

2011

August 21-27, 2011

IWHA President, Robert Metcalf, Ph.D., and Dr. Mary Beth Metcalf took part in the World Water Week (WWW)  in Stockholm, Sweden.