Tabibu Africa, Inc.: Sanitation

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Nkoilale's Big 5

Nkoilale’s Big 5

There is a village of Maasai in the Rift Valley called Nkoilale. They saw a problem and they came together as a community to solve it. With strong leadership and a common goal they are making huge leaps and bounds for the benefit of their community.

Disease, malnutrition, water contaminated with cholera and Typhoid, lack of health care and lack of quality schools close by were their main issues. The community came together and came up with a plan, starting with an organization called The Nkoilale Community Development Organization (NCDO). Then they molded their plan of the “Big 5”:

1- Water (provide clean water to as many as possible in the community)

2- Education (provide education for all children, no matter age or gender)

3- Health Care(provide quality and affordable health care within close proximity)

4- Security (safety for the community)

5- Sanitation (take care of litter issue as well as possible sources of water contamination)

The Nkoilale Community wanted their home to go from what you see on the left to what you see on the right.

In order to make this plan a reality each head of household sold one cow (The Maasai’s entire wealth revolves around their cattle. To sell a cow is a huge commitment and sacrifice) and they soon had enough to build a main boarding school (now has over 1000 students) with several feeder schools, an up to date Health Center (the first of its kind in the Rift Valley) and a huge water project. The NCDO were able to cap a large, clean spring and ran a water line to a central point in town. There are also several water hydrants along the water line which provides fresh, clean water to the community as whole and surrounding communities.

I am absolutely amazed by what this community has been able to accomplish with some cows and the vision and drive of good leadership. They saw a problem and solved it on their own.

It is truly an honor to be able to work with this community, not just as the vice-president of Tabibu Africa, Inc but as an adopted member to the Nkoilale family. I can say, without a doubt, that this community will be a great example to other communities for decades to come of what great vision, leadership, and focus for the common good can do.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

World Health Day 2015

Today marks the day of "World Health Day" and this year the WHO (The World Health Organization) is focusing on food safety.

Foodborne and waterborne diarrheal diseases kill an estimated 2 million people annually, including many children and particularly in developing countries.

WHO says that World Health Day 2015 is a chance to recognize the food safety role of all those involved in food production and to strengthen collaboration and coordination among these areas in order to prevent, detect and respond to food borne diseases efficiently.The actual levels of food borne diseases are estimated to be much higher than what gets reported, underlying the need for improved collaboration to lower risks.

Some of the most important results are related to enteric infections caused by viruses, bacteria and protozoa that enter the body by ingestion of contaminated food. Some stunning facts according to WHO report that there were an estimated 582 million cases of 22 different food borne enteric diseases and 351,000 resulted in death. The Africa region recorded the highest disease burden for these diseases and over 40% of those suffering from food borne disease were children.

Tabibu Africa, Inc believes that hygiene and safe food handling education is key to the solution of this world wide problem. Tabibu Africa, Inc has proven successful hygiene and sanitation programs in place as well as a "Keep Yourself Healthy" workshop for school aged children. This program not only covers issue of food contamination but also water sanitation, sewage & waste disposal, and personal health and hygiene.

Facts of Food Borne Illnesses:

More than 200 diseases are spread through food.

Millions of people fall ill every year and many die as a result of eating unsafe food. Diarrhea diseases alone kill an estimated 1.5 million children annually, and most of these illnesses are attributed to contaminated food or drinking water.

Contaminated food can cause long-term health problems.

The most common symptoms of foodborne disease are stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea. Food contaminated with heavy metals or with naturally occurring toxins can also cause long-term health problems including cancer and neurological disorders.

Food borne diseases affect vulnerable people harder than other groups.

Infections caused by contaminated food have a much higher impact on populations with poor or fragile health status and can easily lead to serious illness and death. For infants, pregnant women, the sick and the elderly, the consequences of foodborne disease are usually more severe and may be fatal.

Everybody has a role to play in keeping food safe.

Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, industry, producers, academia, and consumers. Everyone has a role to play. Achieving food safety is a multi-sectoral effort requiring expertise from a range of different disciplines – toxicology, microbiology, parasitology, nutrition, health economics, and human and veterinary medicine. Local communities, women’s groups and school education also play an important role.

To help Tabibu Africa, Inc spread sanitation, hygiene, and "Keep Yourself Healthy" programs please click here.

www.TabibuAfrica.org