Episcopal Relief and Development is highlighting its clean water and sanitation programs today during the Episcopal Church’s 75th General Convention in Columbus, Ohio. Worldwide, over 1.6 billion children die from diseases each year like cholera and typhoid caused by unsanitary water sources. In the past two years, natural disasters like the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina have made access to safe, clean water even more crucial.
In countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, ERD and Anglican and ecumenical partners are implementing clean water and sanitation programs which provide communities with safe water sources and improve hygiene practices. In the Philippines, 35 percent of the Filipinos have no access to clean drinking water. ERD and the Anglican Church of the Philippines are implementing a program which digs deep wells, installs electric underwater pumps and sets up reservoir tanks. The program also helps communities maintain their water systems.
In the Cunene district of Angola, ERD and the Anglican Diocese of Angola will construct a well and pump to serve six villages. The program will also train community members to build latrines. People will benefit not only from improved health, but these wells also make crop irrigation possible, allowing families to increase their income with their additional food supply.
In rural communities in Nicaragua, ERD and a local ecumenical partner are helping to reduce the incidences of disease and protecting the environment. The partnership is constructing ventilated latrines which prevent odor, insects and diseases. Communities are also taught proper methods of garbage collection, disposal and recycling.
Episcopal Relief and Development is highlighting its programs in the areas of emergency relief and rebuilding, food security and health care each day during General Convention. Located at Booth 146 and 147 in the Columbus Convention Center, ERD is serving free samples of two, new blends in the Bishops Blend Coffee program—Kaldi’s Roast and Café de la Paz.
For more information on ERD, please visit www.er-d.org or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129.
Episcopal Relief and Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. An independent 501(c) (3) organization, ERD saves lives and builds hope in communities around the world. We provide emergency assistance in times of crisis and rebuild after disasters. We enable people to climb out of poverty by offering long-term solutions in the areas of food security and health care, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.
