We are excited that we are developing relationships with research universities and medical schools.  The first contact was Tufts University, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health.  Millersville University, Emory University, Pittsburgh University, Sunyani Polytechnic University, Ghana University, and many other universities and medical schools will be providing research and additional resources.

World Vision has a very strong organization in Ghana to drill boreholes to provide clean water throughout the country.  Hundreds of wells were drilled as a part of the West Africa Water Initiative (WAWI).  World Vision worked closely with the Ghana Guinea Worm Eradication Program to drill wells and boreholes in locations where Guinea Worm Disease was really bad.  World Vision drilled several boreholes which were mechanized in some of our matching grants.  World Vision was very active in the effort to eradicate Guinea Worm Disease.  The partnership of Rotary Clubs are very thankful for the work done by World Vision.  The photograph to the right shows a borehole drilled by World Vision and the Hilton Foundation in 1995.  It is still providing clean water.

Ghana Health Services is the national health organization dedicated to improving the health of Ghanaians.  Our focus is turning to Buruli Ulcer now that the fight against Guinea Worm Disease is finished in Ghana.  We’ve had the good fortune to work with a few great people in this organization.  Dr. Seidu Andrew Korkor is the national director to eradicate guinea worm disease.  We’ve used the statistics managed by Ghana Health Services to know where to dig the next well.  He has a vast wealth of knowledge and a vision to change his country.  Dr. Edwin Ampadu is leading the effort to eradicate Buruli Ulcer from Ghana.  Dr. Ampadu is working with us in our new effort to fight Buruli Ulcer. Ghana Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GGWEP) was a joint venture of the Carter Center and Ghana Health Services. Dr. Korkor is the Director for GGWEP.

Carter Center The Carter Center was the leading organization in the fight to eradicate Guinea Worm Disease.  We worked closely with the director of the Carter Center in Ghana.  They have been a valuable partner.  The Carter Center provided the staff in country to identify the outbreaks of guinea worm disease and make a huge difference.

The Carter Center was one of the major non-profit organizations in the Guinea Worm eradication effort.  We dug wells and drilled boreholes in the locations prioritized by Ghana Guinea Worm Eradication Programme.  The Carter Center is leaving Ghana in September 2011 so our partnership will be ending at that time.

The photograph shows the Ghana Guinea Worm Case Containment Center in Savelugu, Ghana. The center was north of Tamale.  In 2007, Savelugu was the worst place on the earth for Guinea Worm Disease.  Now, the children are laughing and playing instead of being sick with this disease.  The Containment Center is closed!

Living Water International is a non-profit organization dedicated to drilling wells (boreholes) around the world.   Living Water International exists to demonstrate the love of God by helping communities acquire desperately needed clean water, and to experience "living water"—the gospel of Jesus Christ—which alone satisfies the deepest thirst.  Living Water has several drilling crews in Ghana.  Africa Assistance Plan run by Rev. David Donkor operates in the Brong Ahafo Region in central Ghana.

Rotarian John Nadolski is our main contact at Living Water.

Water in Africa (W.A.T.E.R) It is Water in Africa through Everyday Responsiveness responds to issues of water insecurity by making connections - to people, to financial resources, and to partners around the world.  W.A.T.E.R. has repaired boreholes and conducted Water & Sanitation (WATSAN) training in several of our matching grants.

Some of the best from the Carter Center have been hired by Water in Africa.  One of the employees with a passion is Michael Anyekase.  He works to train Water and Sanitation Committees after new boreholes or wells have been completed.  He also loves to repair as many wells as possible.  Michael is the one using the hack saw to repair the pipe.

Georg Fischer Jubilee Foundation

We are partnering with the Georg Fischer Jubilee Clean Water Foundation with a $70,000 matching grant that was awarded to our project in 2010.  The grant was awarded for $70,000 is from the Jubilee Clean Water Foundation of Georg Fischer AG headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. The funds will be used to dig hand dug wells, drill deep wells, repair wells, educate people about water borne illnesses, and provide basic medical care. The work will be managed by the Rotary Club of Sunyani Central, Ghana. We will be targeting communities with a high occurrence of Buruli Ulcer disease. Buruli Ulcer is a flesh eating disease that is found in West Africa.

Georg Fischer AG with the Jubilee Clean Water Foundation has been involved in projects to improve water supply in developing countries and disaster areas. Since 2002, Georg Fischer has donated over $4.6 million to the Clean Water Foundation and has thus funded the implementation of more than 70 projects in 40 countries on four continents. In 2009, seven projects were completed. Five new projects in Indonesia, Brazil, Tajikistan, southern Sudan and Bangladesh received around $300,000 in grants. In all projects, the aim is for experienced partners to support the local population in its efforts to sustainably improve its supply of drinking water.

In May 2010, six projects more were approved by the Jubilee Clean Water Foundation Council, composed by the CEO as chairman and two members of the Executive Committee. The projects will be executed in India, the Philippines, China (Tibet) Ecuador, Kenya and Ghana. Project partners were well known NGOs and local partners, for these projects among others the Swiss Red Cross and the Rotary Club of Rocky Mount, Virginia and our other partnering Rotary Clubs. Click here to read an article on G+F Jubilee Clean Water Foundation.   Click here to read more about Georg Fischer.