CHARLESTON, S.C., Sept. 22, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the international response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa continues to ramp up, Water Missions International (WMI), a non-profit Christian engineering organization, today delivered safe water to Dolo Town, a community in Liberia hit hard by Ebola. Dolo Town, a community located about 30 miles from downtown Monrovia was formerly under quarantine and in addition to Ebola, has suffered from recurrent cholera outbreaks over the years.
Two WMI staff members are currently working in Monrovia in cooperation with the Liberian Water and Sewer Corporation and the Ministry of Public Works to install water treatment equipment sent by WMI earlier this month. "Access to safe water is a basic requirement in combating a disaster of any scale, and it is essential now in meeting the needs of both Ebola patients and health care workers," said Pat Haughney, WMI disaster response manager. "The availability of safe water will help stop the spread of waterborne diseases, such as cholera, which often appear in communities such as Dolo Town during the rainy season."
WMI's director of health studies, Dr. Jeff Deal, spent two weeks in Liberia assisting the Office of the President of Liberia in efforts to disinfect hospitals and Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs). Deal worked at JFK and ELWA hospitals as well as ETUs in Monrovia. In reports back to WMI headquarters, Deal shared that hospitals and ETUs were being overrun with patients and that lack of access to safe water compounded their inability to handle the Ebola epidemic.
Since that time, Liberia has announced a four-fold increase in the number of beds for Ebola patients. "We are currently assisting ELWA hospital and ETUs in meeting the growing demand for safe water," said Haughney, "and we are providing the people on the ground with training and spare equipment in anticipation of their ongoing needs."
Water Missions International sent water treatment equipment that will provide water for up to 100,000 people. That equipment includes five Living Water™ Treatment Systems (LWTS™) each capable of treating approximately 40,000 liters of water per day and providing safe drinking water for 5,000 people per day. In addition WMI sent 10 chlorination devices, solar panels and water quality test kits.
Grundfos, the world's largest pump manufacturer, is providing significant financial support for this effort. Other individual and corporate donors such as PSI Pumping Solutions, Inc. have provided significant support for the effort and equipment was shipped through WMI's relationship with FedEx who secured and provided transport options.
About Water Missions International
Water Missions International is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization providing sustainable safe water and sanitation solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. Using state-of-the-art technology and engineering expertise, the organization has provided access to safe water for more than 2.4 million people in 49 countries on five continents since 2001. Water Missions International implements customized solutions through a comprehensive community development model in its ten permanent country programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Notably, Charity Navigator has awarded Water Missions International their top rating seven years in a row, a distinction shared by only two percent of the charities rated by the organization. To learn more about Water Missions International, visit www.watermissions.org.