Safe Water Now a Reality in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 4, 2003 — PSI has launched a new water purification solution called Clorin in Afghanistan, and expects it to save thousands of lives by ensuring cheap, clean drinking water.

Afghanistan has the third highest infant mortality in the world and the fourth highest under-five mortality: more than one in four children does not survive beyond the age of five, and diarrhea is the leading cause of death, killing about 85,000 Afghan children a year.

Clorin has been developed for PSI by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as part of a campaign funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development to address this issue and reduce the mortality rate due to diarrhea. Clorin is a chlorine compound used to treat water at point of use and is proven to kill most diarrhea-causing bacteria. One bottle of Clorin costs about 17 afghanis (U.S. $.36) and will provide safe drinking water to a family of six for 45 days.

The product, the only one of its kind in Afghanistan, will be produced almost entirely in Afghanistan, and so boost efforts to rebuild the local economy.

The Clorin launch was attended by U.S. Ambassador Robert Patrick John Finn; Dr. Mehraban, deputy minister at the Ministry of Health; and engineer Waheedullah, director of Hygiene Education at the Ministry of Health. The gentlemen, accompanied by PSI/Afghanistan's Michael Chommie, toasted the successful launch with glasses of Clorin treated water.

Afghan President Hamid Karazi has also taken a personal interest in the Clorin project in the wake of the UNICEF announcement that Afghanistan has the fourth highest under-five mortality in the world. President Karazi was not able attend the launch but is still planning to meet with PSI/Afghanistan representatives in June to be briefed on the project.

PSI also played a large role in "Diarrhea Prevention Week" held in Afghanistan the last week of May. U.S. Ambassador Finn said, in an embassy cable sent prior to the weeklong event, that: "PSI will lead the mass media activities, coordinating broadcasts during that week linked to five themes (safe water, hand washing, food safety, latrine cleanliness, garbage disposal). PSI will also produce special small sets of picture cards for distribution as part of a kit to all clinics and schools in Kabul."

PSI also produces a radio series which is broadcast on local radio and on the Voice of America. The shows, which include radio dramas, deliver health messages and promote hand washing and basic hygiene. PSI has also developed children's theatre and trains community health workers, traditional birth attendants and village health volunteers in communication techniques and diarrheal disease prevention and management.

Other countries where PSI implements safe water programs include India, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia.

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One out of every four children in Afghanistan does not live to see his fifth birthday and diarrhea, usually caused by unclean water, is the leading cause of death. The PSI water purification solution Clorin provides safe water for the people of Afghanistan. During the launch of Clorin, (from left to right) Engineer Waheedullah (Director of Hygiene Education, Ministry of Health), Dr. Mehraban (Deputy Minister; Ministry of Health), U.S. Ambassador Finn and PSI's Michael Chommie toasted the safe water campaign with glasses of Clorin treated water.