Gift of the Givers and Proctor and Gamble ensure those affected by natural disasters have access to clean water

Gift of the Givers and Procter and Gamble Southern Africa, which is based in Sandton, are working together to help provide clean drinking water to those affected by natural disasters in Southern Africa.

It’s been a little over a week since the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc across Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Compounded by devastating storms in Malawi, these natural disasters have left the Southern African continent in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. As immediate rescue efforts are well underway, focus on long term recovery plans is of utmost importance.

The Gift of the Givers Foundation continues its intervention in Malawi to support the victims of the recent flood disaster. Since the start of this devastation, Gift of the Givers has been able to offer relief to thousands of families in seven out of 11 districts affected in the southern region of the country.

According to Gift of the Givers’, Imtiaz Sooliman, “Our disaster intervention strategies have been rolled out successfully in Malawi and we thank everyone who has already contributed to the effort to provide essential items to displaced families as we continue to support where needed. We are currently implementing relief efforts in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, with a key challenge being access to flood-affected areas, specifically in Mozambique, with approximately 90 per cent of Beira affected by infrastructure destruction.”

Gift of the Givers is currently focusing on ensuring flood survivors, who have been displaced from their homes, have access to food, clean drinking water, medical care and shelter while relief efforts continue. With the destruction of essential infrastructure, water supplies are under pressure with the spread of disease being one of the key challenges facing the aftermath of a natural disaster such as this.

When access to clean drinking water is compromised, Gift of the Givers has successfully implemented P&G Purifier of Water sachets as a safe purification system. “In the presence of contaminated water sources, whether in stricken rural communities or areas affected by natural disasters such as these, the water purifier becomes the most practical, lightweight, cost-effective, safe and rapid means of providing clean and safe drinking water,” added Sooliman.

The sachets were invented by Proctor and Gamble laundry scientists with just one Purifier of Water sachet, a bucket, a stick and a clean cloth, 10 litres of dirty, potentially deadly, water can be turned into clean, drinkable water in 30 minutes.

Proctor and Gamble are donating one day of clean drinking water to families in need for every P&G product consumers purchase during the month of April 2019 from participating Massmart stores. All donations will supplement the ongoing support given to Gift of the Givers through the Children Safe Drinking Water programme to aid current relief efforts in Southern Africa.

Those who wish to assist relief efforts can donate to the Gift of the Givers. For more details visit www.giftofthegivers.org