{"id":274,"date":"2011-07-21T01:30:40","date_gmt":"2011-07-21T08:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/168.150.224.43\/?page_id=274"},"modified":"2019-03-14T21:54:14","modified_gmt":"2019-03-15T04:54:14","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/waterinternational.org\/?page_id=274","title":{"rendered":"Archive"},"content":{"rendered":"

2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

In\u00a0July, 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<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mary Beth and I are back in Nairobi for the week, after a great week in Lower Nyakach, staying at Dinah Chienjo\u2019s home and visiting the FOTO project.<\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u00a0IDEXX 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Download the PDF of the July 2016 Metcalf Update Here:<\/p>\n

Metcalf Update July 2016<\/a><\/p>\n

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2015 Kenya Cholera Outbreak and Response<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dinah Chienjo, Director of \u00a0the\u00a0FRIENDS OF THE OLD (FOTO) program which is supported by<\/strong>\u00a0International Water and Health Alliances (IWHA) recently \u00a0reported on the February outbreak of Cholera in Migori and Homa Bay Counties in Kenya.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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INTRODUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

In\u00a0<\/strong>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.\u00a0(Additional information regarding those affected as reported by Relief Web will be included later in this report.)<\/em>\u00a0IWHA 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. \u00a0Dr. 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. \u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n

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IWHA President Dr. Robert Metcalf and FOTO Director Dinah Chienjo<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

Additional information to follow…<\/p>\n

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The FOTO and Ministry team \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Explaining cholera, how it is spread and \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 controlled.<\/p>\n

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Collecting water samples \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Preparing water samples for testing<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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. \u00a0A 25 cent (U.S.) bottle of this product will treat 1000 liters of water and help to prevent the spread of cholera.<\/p>\n

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The cost of testing materials is approximately 70 U.S. dollars and provides a total of 50 tests for E-coli. \u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

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. \u00a0She 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.<\/p>\n

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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 \u00a0water professionals from all parts of the world.\u00a0\u00a0Highlighted\u00a0in the presentation was the IWHA supported Friends of \u00a0the Old (FOTO) project in Kenya\u00a0and water testing and treatment\u00a0using the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML).\u00a0 A hands-on demonstration of the water testing procedure and\u00a0an instructional\u00a0poster\u00a0highlighting the testing procedure was also prepared for participants.<\/p>\n

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2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

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Kenya<\/strong><\/p>\n

There