UNICEF Provides Water Quality Testing Equipment To The Liberian Government

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Also Included In: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 29 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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UNICEF provided the Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy, Water Quality Testing Laboratory equipment and reagents for use at the Liberian Hydrological Service in Monrovia. The supplies, worth $62,500, include thermometers, volumetric flasks, autoclave, microscopes, graduated pipettes, portable balances and reagents.

"With this donation, UNICEF is reaffirming its commitment to helping the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy to rebuild the capacity of Liberian Hydrological Service in quality water testing," said Kabuka Banda, UNICEF Liberia Head of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene section. "We urged communities to ensure that the water remains safe from the point of collection to the point of use in an effort to reduce child morbidity and mortality related to the use of contaminated water."

In Liberia, up to 20 per cent of the deaths in children who are under 5 years old are attributable to diarrhoea and other environmental diseases. The high rate of infant mortality in Liberia can be significantly reduced by preventing water related disease through improving hygiene practices and keeping drinking water safe, and making progress towards MDG 4, reduction of child mortality.

Receiving the items from UNICEF, the Deputy Minister for Administration John C. Nylander thanked UNICEF for the donation, describing it as timely and greatly needed.

"These supplies from UNICEF are extremely useful and appreciated in revitalising the laboratory. Water quality testing is essential to Liberia's health programme," Said Mr. Nylandar. "UNICEF has been supporting the Ministry to carry out its mandate since 1991. We would like to call upon other organisations to help the Government of Liberia to fulfil a dream: alleviate poverty, and fight diseases and illiteracy"

About UNICEF

UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

http://www.unicef.org