Over 12,000 villagers throughout northern Laos suffering from unnecessary illnesses caused by water borne bacteria have been reached and are now healthier with the distribution of almost 2,500 water filters through the Rotary-led Adopt-A-Village program.
A team of six, including two Delta Rotarians and their family members, have just returned from the latest visit to the region, which is still suffering some of the impact of the Vietnam War. Water and sanitation is one of the six major priority areas for Rotary around the world.
Rotary Club of Ladner members Mike Storey, with wife Kathy, and Diana Cabott, with daughter Tamara, returned home last week from their mission to Laos with the Adopt-A-Village program, founded and administered by Ontario Rotary member Steve Rutledge.
Winding their way by minivan into the highlands, across streams and rivers, some by boat, even a 90-minute trek by tractor, which sometimes required a push, the six-person team suffered welts, bruises and sore muscles in reaching villages.
"The path was so bad I am surprised that even the tractor got through the deep ruts and rivers," Rutledge said. "But we managed to deliver water filters to villages on a waiting list of villages where many people have been drinking bad water leading to serious illnesses, often among the children. Every village we go to responds the same way when we ask if they have had diarrhea recently: a unanimous show of hands."
Despite what the team had endured to deliver the water filters, there had not been a single complaint, added Rutledge.
"I really couldn't have done this without their terrific help in terms of physical labour and fundraising."
The program runs on donations of $100 per water filter and other funding. For more information, visit http://AdoptaVillageinLaos.wordpress.com.
