MUSC supports WMI in tsunami relief effortby Cindy AbolePublic Relations In the wake of the Dec. 26 South Asian tsunami disaster, Americans responded to the call of victims and their needs through coordinated relief. In the Lowcountry, area residents have organized their own efforts to provide relief in the form of clean drinking water with the help of one Charleston-based charity. Within the past two weeks, individuals, businesses and organizations have teamed with West Ashley-based Water Missions International (WMI), a non-profit organization that manufactures and installs water-treatment systems to communities within developing world countries. Last week, MUSC joined other local businesses and groups committed to raising $350,000, the amount needed to supply 35 water-treatment systems to tsunami-hit areas in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India. Each unit, which is estimated to cost about $10,000 to manufacture, transport and support, is designed to safely filter and chlorinate water. Once installed, a unit can support up to 3,000 people by providing for their daily water needs. Founded in 1999, WMI has already provided more than 75 water purification systems to developing countries and disaster areas in Latin America, Africa and Asia. To help with their efforts, WMI partnered with several national and international organizations including Rotary International, United Methodist Committee on Relief, Samaritan’s Purse, International Aid, Episcopal Relief and Development and other local and regional groups to aid in their global relief projects. Several MUSC faculty members have already collaborated with WMI co-founders, George and Molly Greene, on specific water development projects. MUSC epidemiologists Joyce Nicholas, Ph.D., Tom Hulsey, Ph.D., and pediatrician and global health expert Andrea Summer, M.D., consulted with the group for the project, Just Add Water. Although in its early stages, the grant-funded project is destined to improve people’s health and access to clean drinking water in 25 villages in Honduras. The project will provide water treatment systems, guided expertise and a measurable support plan to these communities. In many impoverished areas of the world, the lack of clean drinking water can fatally affect communities. Unsafe water can speed the outbreak of waterborne illnesses such as cholera, malaria, diarrhea and other diseases to affected populations. “We have worked with Water Missions International before in helping communities access safe drinking water, but those efforts were just a dress rehearsal for this international crisis,” said MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D. “The Medical University stands ready to partner with our colleagues at WMI to prevent further loss of life in the wake of the tsunami.” MUSC employees can make a donation directly to Water Missions Inter-national, P.O. Box 31258, Charleston, SC 29417, or by credit card through their online donor form at http://www.watermissions.org. If donating online, press “donate now” to link to the WMI donor form. Under the designation field, enter “MUSC Tsunami Relief Effort.” If contributing by check, indicate “MUSC Tsunami Relief Effort” directly
on the check. All donations are tax deductible.
Friday, Nov. 26, 2004
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