Wine To Water

Konpilman!!  I just spent a few weeks at the Wine to Water / Filterpure Filter factory in Jacmel, Haiti.  I was joined by Filterpure director, Lisa Ballantine, and ceramics engineer, Brad Ponack.  We worked with the factory staff on advancements to production, quality control, and distribution of the silver-infused ceramic water filters we produce. 

The latest program for distribution is being set up with an excellent medical mission clinic called FOTCOH (Friends of the Children of Haiti).  Comprised of volunteer medical professionals, they offer free medical clinics every other month to the local Haitians in desperate need.  Each two week clinic treats an average of 2,500 patients ranging in all illnesses; HIV, hypertension, and waterborne diseases are rampant.  In Haiti, one in five children dies from malnutrition, dehydration, and diarrhea. Waterborne illness is huge!

The program will provide every FOTCOH patient, suffering from any waterborne illness, a Filterpure filter for their household.  A test run was done during the May clinic where FOTCOH doctors designated those most in need of clean water and issued them a plastic tap from our filter bucket.  Patients were directed to our filter factory as they left the clinic, which is located on FOTCOH's property.  There, we educated the Haitians on filter use, maintenance, and gave them a Filterpure filter.  

The test run was a success! Dozens of filters went out to people like the malnourished 16 year old boy in the picture; he weighed less than 80 pounds.  Thanks to your support, we are very excited to be providing 100 filters for the upcoming July FOTCOH clinic!  These filters will provide a preventative solution to all waterborne illnesses, as opposed to treatment.  Our goal for this new program is to put FOTCOH out of business when it comes to treating waterborne illness!   

-Kyle, WTW Projects Manager