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A new best friend

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In the west African country of Niger, less than 45 per cent of the population have access to safe water.

In Niger, for every 1,000 children born, 160 will die before the age of five (in Canada 6 children in every 1,000 will die before turning five); twenty per cent of those deaths are directly attributed to unsafe drinking water.

Sipti and her husband Soumana live in a community on an island in the Niger River with their four children.

““Our whole life was based in the river,” says Sipti. “It was the river water that we drank. We bathed in the river and washed our clothes and dishes in the river. The river was our best friend. We did not realize that it was making us sick and even killing us.”
Sipti’s children complained of stomach aches. They often had diarrhea. There were times when Septi worried they wouldn’t survive.

Last year Samaritan’s Purse began to build and install BioSand Water Filters in Septi’s village. Septi had to wait almost half a year to receive her filter, but since receiving it, it has replaced the river as her best friend.

“Now that I drink filtered water, my life is so much better,” says Septi. “I can’t drink river water anymore because I will get diarrhea. I feel clean and I’ve gained weight! I thank God because my whole family is healthy. Their stomachaches and diarrhea are all gone. My children all attend school and no sicknesses have kept them from going.”

In the last three years Samaritan’s Purse has installed 1,800 BioSand Water Filters in Niger, bringing health and hope to families across the country.

Ways You Can Help
Pray Please pray that God would continue to work through Samaritan's Purse as we help provide people with safe water.		Give Help Turn on the Tap to clean water in places like Niger. Donate Here.