Speeches

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Peter Bodde

Launch of PlayPumps

Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development

Chimutu Primary School, Area 23, Lilongwe

February 12, 2009

Protocol

The Minister of Irrigation and Water Development, Honorable  Sidik Mia.

The Deputy Mission Director for USAID/Malawi, Richard Kimball

PlayPumps Water For All, President, Jill Rademacher

The Country Representative, Africare Malawi - Joshua Karuma,

All other Government Partners and Development Partners

Members of the Press

Remarks

I am honored to join you today and I am particularly pleased to participate in the launch of “PlayPumps” -- Water for All here at Chimutu Primary School.

As a partner in Malawi's development, I also have the chance to see some of the challenges that Malawians face. 

I am proud of the role that the U.S. Mission plays in assisting the people of Malawi to address these challenges. 

We are active in many areas, but working to improve the health of Malawians is where we devote most of our resources. 

Former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan said, "We shall not finally defeat AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, or any of the other infectious diseases that plague the developing world until we have also won the battle for safe drinking water, sanitation and basic health care."

Safe drinking water is is one of our most basic human needs. 

Lack of clean water, coupled with the lack of basic sanitation and hygiene education, present one of the largest obstacles to progress in the developing world.

Without clean water, children miss school because of sickness, people suffering from HIV/AIDS cannot take their daily medications, and farmers cannot make a living – to name just a few.

Here are just a few facts:

1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water.

Every 15 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease.

For children under age five, water-related diseases are the leading cause of death.

88 percent of all diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

Every year, approximately 2.2 million people die from diarrhea; 90% of these deaths are among children.

Here in Malawi, even today, we are seeing the effects with the number of Cholera cases more than doubled last year’s total, caused by drinking or using dirty water.

(END FACTS)

That is why I'm so pleased to be here today to participate in this event where we are inaugurating an innovative program to provide more and safer drinking water … to provide that basic right to the children here at Chimutu Primary School.

PlayPumps Water For All is the recipient of a $10 million USAID grant that will provide 650 water pumps across several African countries.

I commend the Malawi Government for its commitment to providing guidance and support for the placement of 100 boreholes located at primary schools.  And we are hopeful that this will only be the start.

By placing water points in schools, both the school and surrounding community benefits from access to a clean and reliable source of water.

Families no longer have to choose between sending their daughters to school and sending them to a distant water source to collect water.

I believe that these merry-go-round “PlayPumps” can provide an innovative, child-friendly solution to providing clean drinking water and improving quality of life.

Today's event is just the start.  One hundred pumps will be donated to schools in Malawi with the assistance of a wide range of partners including the U.S. Government, the Ministry of Irrigation and Water, PlayPumps Water For All, Africare, and Water Wells for Africa.

Mr. Minister, ladies and gentlemen, again, it is an honor to be here today and to join you launching "PlayPumps" in Malawi. 

Thank you.