Water-related diseases are very common in South Sudan because reliable access to clean, safe water is the norm for just half of the population.
Families have little choice but to drink contaminated water, leaving them highly vulnerable to water-related conditions like diarrhoea and eye infections. These can cause blindness if not treated, especially later in life, but also in children. Eye infections are easily prevented through the use of clean water for bathing and hand washing.
Lily Poni (68) has five children and lives with her son’s family. During the day, Lily’s son and his wife go to work and she is left to take care of her grandchildren:
‘I have benefited from Trumpeter Community Health trainings. They have visited my home several times with different topics like handwashing with soap. We were all taught the five steps of hand washing which is very crucial during this time of COVID-19. I have been able to teach my grandchildren and my children. The second topic I have learnt is water treatment. I was taught about preparing clean water for drinking and domestic use. I am now able to take care of everyone in the family. Since I learned all these, we have not had anyone who has become sick in the family. The most common diseases that have frequently affected my family members are eye infection and diarrhoea, and all these are related to use of dirty water in the household. But after the teachings the diseases have reduced. I thank God for Trumpeter Community Health.’
The Trumpeters have continued to operate during both COVID-19 and devastating floods which have displaced hundreds of thousands. With their help, families like Lily’s are able to equip themselves to avoid deadly infections. Please pray for resilience and endurance for Remijo Lado Lino, the project coordinator, and his Trumpeter staff as they persevere through these public health crises.
