Clean Water, Clean Blood

July 31st, 2008 by Collective Lens

In 2002, Dan Haseltine, the lead singer of the Christian rock band Jars of Clay, visited Africa. He witnessed extreme poverty, disease, and suffering. His experiences changed him, and he vowed to do something about it. Soon after, Blood:Water Mission was founded in the name of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial gifts of blood and water, and its primary goals are to help rid the African continent of AIDS and provide clean drinking water to the poverty stricken people of Africa.

Millions in Africa do not have access to clean water. Many live in both urban and rural areas where the only source of drinking water is a muddy pool or nearby river, sometimes also used for bathing or a latrine. Diseases such as typhoid, diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera are commonplace in such communities, and 50% of the developing world’s population suffers from waterborne disease at any given moment. Also, due to these diseases, two million children die every year. Additionally, without access to clean water, a person infected with HIV/AIDS is much more susceptible to disease. Because AIDS directly attacks the immune system, these usually non-fatal waterborne diseases become extremely serious.

Blood:Water Mission’s first major undertaking was the 1000 Wells project, aiming to build 1000 wells to provide clean drinking water in urban and rural locations. So far, over 340 wells have been built, and many more are underway. Raising money to build a well is only the beginning, however. After a well is built, Blood:Water and its partner organizations work with community members to teach local populations how to maintain and care for their new water source. Education and local leadership involvement are crucial steps following the initial construction. In many cases, community committees are formed to supervise the use and maintenance of the wells, providing for a sustainable solution that will last for years. Furthermore, a source of clean water in the middle of the community allows for more productivity. Obtaining water is traditionally a woman’s job in many African villages, and the task usually involved a carrying a heavy load up to five miles from the water source back to the community.

by justbarak

by justbarak

The organization has also had a large part in helping two brothers, Milton and Fred Ochieng, construct a clinic in Kenya that was began by their father who died of AIDS. The brothers were sent to America to become doctors, and while they were gone their parents died of AIDS. They then returned to Kenya to piece together their lives and finish the construction project. An award winning documentary film, Sons of Lwala, portrays their struggles as they attempt to gain supporters and complete construction of the clinic.

Blood:Water is looking for volunteers to help raise awareness and money. Some former volunteers have organized group bicycle rides and school projects to raise money. Amazingly, Daren Wendell has been hiking around the world since March of 2008, raising money along the way for the organization.

Learn more about Blood:Water Mission on their website or blog, or see more photos from justbarak on Flickr.

by justbarak

Tags: Africa, AIDS, Blood:Water Mission, cholera, clinic, Dan Haseltine, Daren Wendell, diarrhea, dysentery, Fred Ochieng, HIV/AIDS, Jars of Clay, Kenya, Milton Ochieng, poverty, Sons of Lwala, sustainable solution, typhoid, water, wells
Posted in Articles, Economic Development, Health and Medicine, Poverty and Hunger