We take our water supply more or less for granted... at the moment we are somewhat overloaded with the rain! Many parts of the world suffer from either a lack of water or what water is available is unclean and often contaminated .
What a transformation if a secure source of clean water provided for a community. This is one are we have supported very strongly.. New wells in Niger in the Tibiri area which has made an enormous difference to a very large area there... the people are proud to be raising crops and having this food supply has saved a number of communities. we hope to expand into supporting gardens around schools and expand the agricultural advice support along of course with more seeds supplies. We have also put into place an apiary programme which has been delayed due to the current near famine conditions. We have also supplied a suitable lorry for transporting the vital food relief to the surrounding area.
We are supporting more wells to be built in Somalia... 6 more are being built this June and we are funding 2 directly. Our colleagues in Midland International Aid Trust are supporting the others. Mr Aslam is again going to check the situation traveling there at the en d of June. We wish him well and pray for his safe return.. I had planned to go with him but maybe this could not only be risky for me as a white European but attract unwelcome attention in other members of the party and put this mission at risk.
However I do plan to go to such areas of Pakistan, Niger and Somalia to put into place some dental decay reduction programme for children... supervised application of fluoride in a toothpaste will reduce decay rates in children by 30% and with the accompanying ingestion of the paste! the developing teeth will contain a small amount of fluoride which will strengthen them against a life time risk of decay.
We shall also fund more cataract operations wherever we can.. it is difficult for us to imagine what it is like to be blind and have to beg on the streets to survive, when all that is needed is a simple operation to remove the cloudy lens and replace for a cost in eye drops etc of £25. Cured, the patient with restored sight can now work , support their family and their dignity... another life transforming step ... this site will keep updating on the progress of another initiative of MIAT, to twin with a new hospital in Gurjarat in Northern Pakistan to give access for treatment to those suffering from breast cancer, those needing supply for limb replacement and those women suffering from a fistula caused solely by no medical intervention available during a failed birth of their child.
Regards
Ian
