Letter from Aklilu Lodamo Bafena, a World Vision staff person in Ethiopia:

"First of all we would like to express our heart felt gratitude for all the development activities you have been carrying out here in Shone district and its vicinity.

" … Water borne diseases are one of the top ten diseases in our district. Out of 28,533 patients treated in 2007 in our health centers, 17.5 % of them were reported to be infected with various water borne diseases such as diarrhea (9%), amoebas (3%), giardiasis (2%), helminthiasis (2%), eye disease (1.5%), and skin disease (1%).

" … Endale, 40, is a mother of three boys and four girls. Her husband died some five years back due to diarrhea. As a result, she became the sole bread-winner of the family.

"Four of her children have suffered from various waterborne diseases, especially diarrhea. Currently two of her children (Bizunesh Meskelu, 11, and Meselech Meskelu, 9) are sick with the same disease. Bizunesh is severely sick that she is obliged to quit her education. Meselech has not yet quit her education, but she keeps missing so many classes. As a result, she is forced to perform very low in her schooling.

"We remain very thankful to World Vision for its support to help us respond to various health related challenges of the community in the district. As the majority of our population is exposed to various water-borne diseases due to shortage of potable water supply, we would like to request for your usual support to help us reduce the number of people suffering and dying from water borne diseases.

"Let us prevent acute watery diarrhea utilising safe water!"

Aklilu Lodamo Bafena

Misrak Badawacho District Health Office Head

Translator: Aklilu Kassaye

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