Liberia - Rehydrating to Save Lives
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Gathering Together IncPreventing lethal dehydration among children with treatable disease in Liberia.
$100
raised by 1 people
$10,000 goal
Isn't there a better way?
Hi, thank you to everyone who has donated or reached out! We wanted to address a couple of very good questions, and appreciate all feedback.
Wouldn't a combination of dry powder rehydration salts and water filters be a more cost effective approach? YES! In fact we have already imported large quantities of dry rehydration salts, and in some cases this has worked well. However there are often localized outbreaks of disease which require fast responses in underdeveloped rural areas, any additional steps such as filtering of water often lead to a breakdown in the process and treatment becomes ineffective. Providing pre-bottled, clean rehydration fluid is the only way to guarantee that we are effectively avoiding lethal dehydration, both in the clinic and when the child returns home to recuperate.
Isn't the real problem here access to clean water? After all, it's dirty water that is causing both the initial outbreak and preventing the children from properly recovering. Totally! There are water projects in Liberia, and we can't overemphasize the importance of supporting these. Access to clean water is a basic human right, one most of us easily take for granted. However, developing clean water infrastructure does not happen overnight, and the finished projects are only as good as the hygiene standards adopted by the community. The sooner we solve this, the less we will have to rely on interim solutions such as rehydration fluids, but for now there are thousands of children dying - please help us prevent that.
Children in Liberia die everyday from common diarrheal disease (Typhoid, Cholera, Dysentery). These diseases can be treated with antibiotics, however without rehydration fluids, children quickly succumb to dehydration and often die an otherwise preventable death.
No child should die of these basic diseases in 2019. A few dollars worth of rehydration fluid will carry a sick child through the critical illness window until their antibiotics kick in and their immune system is able to handle the local water supply once again. We are working to bring one full shipping container of medical grade rehydration fluid to Liberia, which will help to save thousands of children's lives.
Gathering Together (501c3) has been working in Liberia since 2012, through our local partners our reach includes healthcare, education and public recreation. Our approach is one which values local guidance and boots on the ground, helping to avoid the pitfalls associated with providing services in a region which rates high in corruption. Our story is one of family, passion and unavoidable serendipity, we invite you to learn more about us at our website gatheringtogether.org