Every year, World Water Day, which falls on 22 March, attempts to create awareness and inspire action in trying to tackle the prevailing water crisis. According to the World Health Organization, 2017 saw over 663 million people living without a safe supply of drinking water close to home. Sri Lanka in particular is no stranger to the crisis. In 2014, nearly 55% of Sri Lankans relied on shallow and deep wells and streams for drinking water.
Research goes on to show that the prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKDu) is approximately 15.1–22.9% in some districts. Providing solutions to villages and communities, ABC Trade & Investments have been able to reach over 10,000 households so far as part of their commitment towards fulfilling Sustainable Development Goals in ensuring that everyone has access to safe water by 2030.
The theme for World Water Day 2018 is ‘Nature for Water’ – exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century. According to the official United Nations World Water Day initiative, damaged ecosystems affect the quantity and quality of water available for human consumption. Today approximately, 2.1 billion people of the 7.6 billion, live without access to safe drinking water at home. The lack of access in turn affects their health, education and livelihoods.
“One of the main problem in Sri Lanka is the lack of awareness in proper filtration systems and non access to clean drinking water, there has been a steady rise in water related disease, kidney related diseases particularly CKDu. Our mission is to reach out to as many villages, towns and cities as possible and create a decentralized system that will ensure access to clean drinking water,” said ABC Trade and Investments CEO Amalrajah Jayaseelan.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has been an imperative partner recommending and supporting the initiatives of ABC Trade & Investments and making their projects a reality. With funding from individuals such as Scott Walker, an Australian donor who has extended his financial support to over 80 village water purification projects in Sri Lanka, and with like-minded individuals and organization of local and international and have made a significant impact in providing clean and safe drinking water to over 200 villages as a CSR initiative.
It’s time for Sri Lanka to step up and take initiative in providing access to clean drinking water. Those who suffer the most, unfortunately belong to rural communities, which is also a significant amount of our population. Without access to proper infrastructure, clean water, sanitation and medical facilities, the primary victim, usually 30-60 year old farmers, also lose out on their principal and sometimes only means of livelihood, agriculture.
ABC Trade & Investments Ltd., was incorporated in 1997, is focused in the business area if ICT, healthcare, water purification, printing, renewable energy, lighting and is a recognized member of the Sri Lanka Computer Vendors Association and the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka. ABC Trade & Investments Ltd., Healthcare Division is in the water purification business for the past few years with an installation base of over 5000+ water purification equipment ranging from Domestic solutions to community based RO plants and custom designed water purification solution to Government, Commercial and private sector organizations and expanding its scope to waste water management and waste water treatment.
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