by Trayle Kulshan

Created on: March 23, 2010   Last Updated: March 24, 2010

Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation claims 4,500 lives a day. What should we do about it?

To save the world, we have to focus: 4,500 lives a day is a daunting task. Can we narrow it down a little? 98% of these dying people are in the developing world. Still too wide, so I’ll focus on Africa, and closer still on Kenya, and closer still on Isiolo District, just east of Mt. Kenya.

Now let’s consider only the quickest killer – cholera. In 2009 about 30 people died from cholera in Isiolo, that’s 1 person every 12 days. During one of those 12 day intervals, Halima’s daughter died of cholera. Now, maybe we can do something about that.

I met Halima in Garfasa, a small village of 3,600 people in central Isiolo. It is flat, arid, red-dusty, full of goats and children, typical of this rural area. The Chief’s office is made from mud patted into a stick frame with a cool, dark doorway and sits across the dirt road from a water kiosk.

The two water taps that emerge from the side of the kiosk are dry and have been for 3 days, but today there is a line of yellow jerry-cans lined up in hope of a delivery. Halima saw the water system operator pass in a matatu (local transport) this morning heading towards the borehole 5 km up the road and spread the word that water should come today.

Halima has 10 goats and 3 children, but she had four last year before the cholera outbreak. She was told that the cholera started from the river, where she collects water when there is none in the water kiosks.

Memories of the year before make her fear the river, but most days she has no choice but to walk the 4 kilometers to fetch filthy water for her family.

Some of us have more choices than Halima. Not only for where we get our water, but in terms of what we can do about saving people like her daughter who died last year.

You can reduce your own water foot print. You can raise awareness with your friends. You can lobby your own government to increase aid for the developing world.

But to really make a difference for Halima, you can support grass roots projects through donations of money or time. This was my choice 7 years ago, giving me the opportunity to get to know Halima and most importantly to see the difference that small, direct and focused projects can make.

Halima and people like her know what they, themselves, need to prevent cholera and other water and sanitation related diseases. I asked her. She said they need a new borehole, because the existing one doesn’t have enough water for the 3 villages that share it.

She said they need solar panels because the fuel for pumping is expensive and must be brought from the main village. She said they need more income because if they were not so poor they could buy more fuel and pay technicians to fix the system when it breaks. She isn’t helpless, she lacks choices.

To save the world, we have to focus: Don’t get discouraged by daunting statistics. Don’t aim to save 4,500 people a day, aim to save 1. In saving 1, you will help thousands. As you are choosing how to support grass roots projects, make informed choices.

Research charities before you donate, ensure they are accountable to you and to Halima. Key charity rating agencies like Charity Navigator, Independent Charities of America, Guidestar, and the American Institute of Philanthropy are easily found on the internet and can guide you to the most cost-efficient charities.

Look for charities with low overheads, those who ensure at least 89% of their funds reach the programs, reach those in need. Learn about what kind of projects they implement, see which ones inspire you, which ones you think will save a life.

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