Official News

Dr. Andrew Seidu Korkor and Lamisi Mbillah join the WATER Board of Directors

Saturday, 09 April 2011 14:33 Written by Jim Niquette

April 9, 2011 – WATER today announced the addition of Dr. Andrew Seidu Korkor and Lamisi Mbillah to its Board of Directors. Dr. Korkor, a medical doctor, is the National Program Manager for Guinea Worm eradication in Ghana and has been working with WATER in Ghana for the past several years. He brings his considerable skillset with eradication and control of neglected tropical diseases to the WATER board. Ghana plans to announce the break in transmission of guinea worm in July, 2011. A feat accomplished under the leadership of Dr. Korkor. His addition is consistent with WATER’s desire to couple the provision of water and sanitation with disease control. Lamisi Mbillah became the first African woman to ever be named as Miss World Beauty With a Purpose, at the 2006 Miss World pageant in Poland. She was Miss Ghana in 2005. She won the award and was named a semifinalist in the pageant as a result of her work with the Ghana Health Service, Carter Center and UNICEF of the eradication of guinea worm and promotion of the distribution of iodized salt during her reign as Miss Ghana. The award is given to the contestant who contributes the most to humanity and society during her reign.

WATER to work with 2006 Miss World Beauty With a Purpose, Lamisi Mbillah and musician Rocky Dawuni to raise money to fight Buruli Ulcer in Ghana.

Monday, 04 April 2011 14:32 Written by Jim Niquette

April 4, 2011 – The Ghana Health Service (GHS) of the Ministry of Health issued a letter to Water In Africa Through Everyday Responsiveness (WATER) authorizing it to attempt to raise $4.8 million US dollars to fight Buruli Ulcer in Ghana. Buruli Ulcer is arguably the most neglected of the neglected tropical diseases (NTD’s). It is a flesh eating bacteria related to tuberculosis and leprosy. There were over 1,000 cases in Ghana in 2010. It was the second most endemic country in the world behind Cote d’Ivoire with Benin third. The disease is spreading in sub-Saharan Africa especially in the Gulf of Guinea. The cause of transmission is not known.

In the letter, GHS requests that WATER, in conjunction with Lamisi Mbillah and Rocky Dawuni to seek funding on a larger scale, than previously attempted, to combat the disease. Rocky Dawuni is Ghana’s most recognized international musician and Lamisi Mbillah was the first African woman to ever win the Miss World Beauty With a Purpose title in 2006 at the Miss World pageant. Both were instrumental in the fight to eradicate guinea worm in Ghana and will now take their considerable capabilities to this new cause with WATER.

WATER Enters Agreement with Pure Home Water (PHW) to Help Expand Ghana Operations

Tuesday, 18 January 2011 14:26 Written by Jim Niquette

January 18, 2011 – Water In Africa Through Everyday Responsiveness (WATER) has today announced a relationship with Pure Home Water (PHW) to help expand PHW’s operations in Ghana. WATER will provide management and accounting services to PHW in Ghana for a 12 month period in hopes of adding to PHW’s presence, as well as advance to development of its ceramic household water filter production in northern Ghana. PHW is in the process of building a production facility in Tamale for low cost ceramic filters as a low cost solution for household water filtration. This technology is especially relevant in communities without boreholes or other alternatives for obtaining potable water. PHW is collaborating with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in its efforts. Under the agreement WATER will attempt to bring the facility to regular production levels as well as to help build a distribution channel.

Final Lifeteen Fundraiser Total exceeds $216,000

Monday, 11 October 2010 22:02 Written by Jim Niquette

Dear Lifeteen and Edge Parishes,

We want to sincerely congratulate you, for having done your part to make the Give It Away Now effort an overwhelming success. We could not have done it without you and your incredible financial contribution. It was the first international effort for Life Teen Give It Away Now, and it clearly resonated within the Life Teen community. Our original goal was $50,000 and thanks to everyone we have received pledges of almost 4 times that. As of Dec. 31, 197,235 has been pledged and $190,000+ has been collected. W.A.T.E.R. thanks you for everything you have done.

W.A.T.E.R. is an all volunteer organization and you and your Life Teen and/or Edge community have joined us in a big way. Without the support of people like you we would not have an NGO (non governmental organization). It is our hope that this will mark the beginning of a longer term relationship with your parish and each and every member of your youth organization. We hope we can do more with you in 2011. In fact, there are some Life Teen parishes who plan to continue to raise money for W.A.T.E.R. for the rest of the school year. So please keep us in your thoughts. There are approximately 2 billion people in the world without access to water and sanitation and you have proven that we can help.

Below is a video where you can learn more about WATER and the work you have made possible through your generosity. I know we speak for every volunteer at WATER when we tell you that you have inspired us all. When they were thirsty you gave them water. Yes, you did. May God bless your entire team.

Sincerely,

Jim Niquette, Janet Kline, Bob Maher
W.A.T.E.R. Board of Directors

Download the latest parish donations list.

November 8, 2010 Update

Life Teen 's Give It Away Now campaign "Thirst for Change" continues to blast the $50,000 goal "INTO THE W.A.T.E.R!" 204 parishes have now reported to W.A.T.E.R. and Life Teen a new total of $178,000. Of that amount, $134,000 is already in our W.A.T.E.R. bank account ready to go to work. We are counting on the rest of those pledges arriving soon so Catholic Relief Services can start the village application process for our 2011 drilling. Thousands of thirsty people in Ghana will drink clean water because of you. Many parishes are still raising funds or yet to report. Stay tuned to this site for regular updates on what has turned into an outstanding effort thanks to thousands of incredible Catholic youth.

W.A.T.E.R. partners with Ghana Health Serivce, Sunyani Rotary, Rotary International, and Jubilee Foundation to Combat Buruli Ulcer

Tuesday, 17 August 2010 00:00 Written by Jim Niquette

The Ghana Health Service, the Rotary Club of Sunyani, the George Fisher Jubilee Foundation and W.A.T.E.R. announced a joint effort to attack Buruli Ulcer at a Press Conference in Sunyani, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana. Present at the press conference were Dr. Edwin Ampadu, Ghana Health Service National Program Manager for Buruli Ulcer, Water Hughes, representing the George Fisher Jubilee Foundation and Rotary International, Samuel Obuor, President of the Sunyani Rotary Club and Jim Niquette, representing W.A.T.E.R. The combined group intends to attack Buruli Ulcer with the same combination of surveillance, case treatment and provision of water and sanitation as has been so successful with guinea worm eradication in Ghana. At the press conference the partners announced a $100,000 grant from the Rotary and a $70,000 grant from the Jubilee foundation. Others partners are being sought for both the provision of boreholes, surveillance activities and the treatment of cases.

Learn more about Buruli Ulcer: WHO, Wikipedia.