Malawi (MNN) — Over 35 percent of Malawi's population has no access to clean water. This results in a high child mortality rate; about 20 percent of kids die before reaching age 5. But for one village in the Mulanje District, survival is no longer a question. Thanks to Living Water Internationa (LWI), clean drinking water can now be freely drawn from a well in Mulimia Village.
Before LWI's visit, the nearest water source was little more than muddy seepage. Getting water was a frustrating event; regular pump congestion led to arguments, and village women were unsure if the water was even safe to drink. In Malawi, one pump often supplies water for several villages. If the water is contaminated, it creates a chain reaction of sickness among surrounding communities. Now, residents of Mulimia village and the villages on its borders can rest assured that their water is safe to drink.
Malawi, nicknamed the "Warm Heart of Africa," is a small, impoverished nation in east central Africa. Many villages lack basic healthcare, lending to the severely decreased food production; people who are sick and weak are less productive. Diarrhea and malaria are the main causes of child mortality, with one in five kids dying before they're old enough to enter kindergarten. HIV/AIDS is also prevalent in Malawi, with about one million, or 15 percent of the population, suffering from the virus.
If you'd like to help provide clean water for people in Malawi, click here.
