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Water is Life: PM Supports WASH-Program in Ghana

Published: 05/07/2019

Think about it: You wake up in the morning, you use the toilet, wash your hands, take a shower, brush your teeth, then you move on to the kitchen, drink your daily PowerCocktail. It’s these simple things in life, we pay almost no attention to anymore. Because access to clean water is nothing any of us need to be concerned about. Yet, one in three people globally still do not have access to safe drinking water. And 785 million people worldwide remain without even basic drinking water services.

Clean Water is Essential for Healthy Growth

In the past years, Ghana has made significant progress to improve access to water sources. However, about 19% of the country’s population still lacks access to water and 80% lacks access to sanitation facilities, among those children, the most vulnerable. Limited access to proper sanitation puts them at risk, physically, every day, because they have to walk for more than 30 minutes each way in search of water. Some end up getting it from contaminated sources such as untreated rivers, dams, and ponds, leaving them vulnerable to waterborne illness and disease. Furthermore, the time they spend in search for water is not spent in school. Therefore, lack of accessible water doesn’t only endanger their health, but their education as well. Adequate sanitation and hygiene are key drivers for poverty reduction and socio-economic development.

World Vision Provides Clean Water to a New Person Every 10 Seconds

PM-International proudly supports World Vision’s WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) program for Improved Child Well-Being in the Krachi East district, located in the Southeast of Ghana, and in the Upper Denkyira West District, located in the South-West of Ghana. . Access to safe sources remains to be a major problem for the people of the district. Juliana Goessmann from World Vision explains: “The target communities are remote, difficult to access, and without any boreholes, whereas other communities do not have enough boreholes to cover all community members.” Together with World Vision we help to improve the situation. In fact, World Vision provides clean water to a new person every 10 seconds. But it’s not just about providing access but also about teaching children good hygiene practices, to ensure the good result is maintained and sustained.

Nobody Should Consider Water a Luxury

“Many of our sponsored children live in the Krachi East District. On previous sponsor trips, I’ve had the chance to take a personal look at their living conditions. We believe that every child deserves safe water. The community-based approach of World Vision gives us deep roots among the population and allows us to work together with them closely to really make a change,” says Vicki Sorg, Charity Ambassador of PM-International. Until next year, the WASH program in Krachi focuses on the following project activities:

  • Increase access to and good use of safe water sources
  • Mobilize five communities for drilling boreholes
  • Construct at least five boreholes (hand pumps)
  • Instruct five water-sanitation and maintenance teams
  • Construct toilet blocks at five schools
  • Conduct handwashing and hygiene trainings
Handwashing demonstration by a pupil in front of the new hygiene facility in Ghana

Thank you!

About 300 people, 200 of which are children, benefit directly from each constructed borehole. That means that PM-International can reach and provide water for 1.500 people in total. All of this would not be possible without your incredible support, dear customers and partners. With every FitLine product sold, PM-International automatically donates a calculated amount to charity. Your love for the products allows us to share love and support with people in need. Let’s continue to make the world a better place for generations to come!