Thirst-Aid inspires the drive for safe drinking water to come from within populations through education, social marketing and the introduction of applicable technology.
Thirst-Aid is now directing one of the most successful ceramic water filter (CWF) interventions in the world. As of today there are eight private CWF producers who employ over 150 people. In the last 11 months, these producers have manufactured and distributed over 90,000 CWFs, providing a population of nearly half a million with sustainable clean drinking water. And the Thirst-Education team has trained over 300 health workers in filter use, care and good hygiene practice. Cyclone Nargis now accounts for the largest and most successful implementation of CWFs in the history of disaster relief. As a result of Thirst-Aid’s efforts, Myanmar now has the greatest CWF production capacity of any country in the world, and, rather than being regarded as a pariah, is now actually being recognized as being a leader in this intervention.
Nearly nine out of ten child deaths due to diarrhea could be prevented by interventions existing today. There are more effective and lifesaving solutions for preventing and treating diarrhea than any other childhood illness.
The best way to protect children from waterborne disease is to prevent them from getting it in the first place.
Thirst-Aid’s primary focus is the prevention of waterborne illnesses that result in diarrheal morbidity and death, particularly among children under five. Thirst-Aid promotes education and knowledge as the principal tools for safe water intervention, inspiring the drive for improved water quality to come from within communities prior to the introduction of household water treatment technologies.
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Thirst-Ed's goal is to make knowledge of household water treatment and proper hygiene as common as how to cook rice or fry an egg.
Thirst-Aid bases this approach on the assumption that educated people do not willingly drink contaminated water – much less give it to their children.
