Orbis - Donor Communications

ORBIS Ireland Supporter Updates (Global Giving) Author: James Harold Jun 10, 2013

Providing Access to clean Water in Konso, Ethiopia

By James Harold - Development Manager

Konso Water Pump

Photo: James Harold

ORBIS Ireland is committed to providing the Ethiopian people with access to clean water; an integral element in the battle to eliminate trachoma from the country. Trachoma is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted through contact.

Promoting personal hygiene and the importance of hand and face washing is highly effective but without access to clean water this education can become redundant.

Recently, a group of fundraisers joined me on a tour of Konso, southern Ethiopia. The region is largely inhabited by farming communities. Water is a scarce resource and many members of the community travel up to twenty kilometres to fetch it. The area is largely dry and before our intervention there was virtually no water harvesting infrastructure in place.

In partnership with Water Aid, ORBIS has transformed accessibility to clean water in this area. Building an underground damn has allowed the community to collect water all year round. In turn, this is connected to a nearby pumping station that serves around 1000 people. The impact of providing water to this community has been enormous and your generosity has made this project possible.

ORBIS has been working to provide clean water to the people of Konso for over five years now and with your support, we are making progress. Through providing access to clean, potable water, we are helping to eliminate trachoma and other diseases. By 2015, we hope to leave the people of Konso with the skills and infrastructure needed to support themselves in a sustainable way. Thank you for being a part of this.

Links: Our Work in Ethiopia

May 24, 2013

Teaching Personal Hygiene to Combat Disease

By James Harold - Development Manager

Health Extension Worker Kayaola Gelismo

Photo: James Harold

Late last year we visited Konso, southern Ethiopia, and met with Kayaola Gelismo.

Kayaola is an ORBIS-trained Health Extension Worker. Working door to door in this densely populated region, she is charged with informing the local community about the importance of good personal hygiene in the battle against the blinding eye disease, trachoma.

Each year, Kayaola attends a one day ORBIS training programme. This initiative focuses on highlighting the importance of facial cleanliness. In this way, we can slow down the spread of bacteria which causes trachoma infection. Kayaola engages with the local community through demonstrating hand and face washing techniques. Her work

centres on women and children to ensure that the next generation are the first to grow up free from the threat of avoidable blindness.

Kayaola told us that slowly but surely people are realising the lasting effects her work has. Through simple yet effective personal hygiene education, ORBIS is ensuring that local people have the awareness they need to eradicate trachoma from their community forever. Without your support, this would not be possible and for this we thank you.

Links: Visit our Website!

May 9, 2013

Simple Sight-Saving Surgery: Churo Ayano

By James Harold - Development Manager - ORBIS Ireland

Melkamu Roba and Churo Ayano

Photo: James Harold

As part of our fundraising trip to The Great Ethiopian Run, Addis Ababa, ORBIS Ireland shepherds a small group of supporters on a project visit. Late last year, we visited Konso, southern Ethiopia and witnessed a simple yet effective surgery being carried out on Churo Ayano. Churo is a 37 year old local man who had travelled some 10km by foot to the Konso Regional Health Centre.

Having suffered from trachoma for nearly 5 years, Churo was visiting the health centre with a friend when his condition was recognised by an ORBIS-trained nurse. Trachoma is an infectious eye disease which continues to bring pain, blindness and poverty to millions across the developing world. Trachoma is prevalent in Ethiopia. If left untreated, the eyelashes turn inwards and scar the surface of the eye. This advanced state of trachoma is known as trichiasis and causes avoidable blindness. Churo was at immediate risk of losing his sight when he was operated on by an ORBIS-trained nurse, Melkamu Roba.

The simple surgery performed on Churo has had a life-changing effect. We spoke with him shortly after his surgery and he told us that once the protective bandages are removed in a week’s time, he is most looking forward to just being like everybody else and getting back to work. Without the support of ORBIS, Churo told us that he would probably have followed the advice of his friends and removed his eyelashes himself.

On the day we visited Konso Health Centre, there were 6 other patients waiting for surgery. The cost of each surgery is just â‚Ź6 or $10. Please help us deliver the gift of sight to people like Churo.