By Judy Buchanan
Inefficient and ineffective use of public dollars is nothing new – it’s disheartening and the cause of much anger and frustration, and hung in the balance are many basic unmet needs. Foreign aid to developing countries is certainly one example. While foreign aid to some countries may filter down to the towns, villages and people in need, may more needs are met with non-governmental organizations, church and faith-based groups. This happens while some greedy and selfish government leaders become wealthy and the intended recipients go without their basic needs.
I’ve had the opportunity to spend time in one of these all but forgotten areas, northern Uganda. My sister, a medical practitioner is in her eighth year of providing primary and maternity care to the families of war ravished northern Uganda. She accepts no salary for her work and must depend upon the support of her religious community in this country and the generosity of others. In fact, some of the medications dispensed have come as donations from American pharmaceutical companies because of the limited access to government medications for those unable to pay.
Recently she and her community have undertaken a water purification project. They have developed a relationship with Water with Blessings, an organization that provides purification kits and education to women in developing countries.
The water taken daily from the boreholes in rural Gulu contains bacterial contamination and the water authority has taken no action on these contaminated wells. The residents are left to solve the problem or bare the consequences of many serious and life threatening water-related diseases.
My sister’s religious community and others have been providing the dollars necessary to purchase the water filters needed to purify the water.
In addition to purifying the local water, the project engages and trains the committed women of the villages who pledge to share clean water with three other families, thereby extending the impact. These women will in turn become trained and share their ability with the water kits to train additional families.
The program, funded with voluntary donations, has made a difference quickly and continues to grow according to my sister the nurse practioner at the area health and maternity clinics where she notes a decrease in typhoid and other water related illnesses.
We need to be aware of this partnership to empower women to create a healthier community, one mother, one filter at a time. And to be vigilant and advocate for an efficient and effective use of foreign aid dollars, put into service to meet real needs.
The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Cumulus Media, Inc.
