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The Trachoma Project in the Gwembe
Valley
Trachoma is the largest preventable cause of a very painful blindness in Africa with the infection rate being as high as 45% amongst the children. Our program includes examination of the villagers, providing the medicine to treat those that are infected, educating them as to proper hygiene, performing surgery when required, and providing clean water by giving each village a bore hole ($6,500).
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Examining
the Children
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Providing
the medication
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Providing
the education
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Drop in infection rate
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In 2001 we sunk our first 10 wells and have been drilling every year since then. By the end of 2008 we will have drilled over 360 (making us the largest private well driller in Zambia) and will have given clean water to most of the 65,000 Tonga in the Gwembe District and will have begun provding clean water to a neighboring area called Choma.
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An old source
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Providing Clean Water
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One of 300 wells
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It is very important to maintain these boreholes and so as well as setting up and training local water committees at each well site to handle simple problems, we also in 2005 trained and equipped 15 pump minders and we trained and equiped another 15 in 2006 for a total of 30 to help with the more complex problems. We also have two dedicated men in the valley who as well as dispensing the necessary medicine, also monitor these wells closely.
Click on images for a larger view
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Pumpminder
graduates
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Additional Benefits
Banana trees
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A thriving garden
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Kiln for making bricks
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