Photo via water.cc

Clean water brings the Gospel to an isolated part of Kenya

Kenya's mortality rate among children under five years old is primarily blamed on waterborne diseases like gastroenteritis, diarrhea, malaria, and amoebic dysentery, reports MNN.

The contamination frequently stems from human and livestock waste, despite the sanitary disposal methods of most of the population.

In rural areas, this problem increases significantly. Living Water International just returned from a water project in Ithanga, in the interior of Thika district.

The arid region is about 50 kilometers from Thika Town, northeast of Nairobi. Ithanga is extremely isolated from the sprawling Del Monte pineapple farm.

The population of the area is mainly subsistence farmers, though some are employed by the Del Monte or Kakuzi farms.

In this area stands a busy health center. According to the nursing officer, HIV/AIDS is very prevalent in the area, and the comprehensive care centre is always full. "We have depended on rain water catchments for hospital operations," said Kingori Mishack, Ithanga Clinic's head nurse. "This new borehole is good news to everyone!"

The LWI team was able to revisit the clinic a few weeks after they completed the well in order to reinforce some of the hygiene and evangelism teachings. The community is so happy with the new, clean drinking water; some told us that the waterborne diseases were now "a gone case!"

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TAGS: Kenya mortality rate waterborne diseases Living Water International evangelism outreach

[09/28/2010]

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