International Medical Corps announced at the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting a Commitment to Action to address the lack of clean water following natural disasters, where the number of deaths caused by disease can exceed those caused by the disaster itself. International Medical Corps will pilot and pre-position the innovative DayOne Waterbag™ which uses water purification packets developed by Procter & Gamble (P&G). Over the next year and a half, International Medical Corps will target disaster-prone communities routinely affected by seasonal flooding to evaluate training and distribution methods prior to an emergency to maximize this technology and to ultimately provide clean drinking water in the aftermath of a disaster.
“With our innovative partners DayOne Response and P&G, International Medical Corps will be able to better address the threat of disease from a lack of clean drinking water following rapid-onset disasters,” said International Medical Corps President & CEO Nancy A. Aossey. “Thanks to the Clinton Global Initiative’s extraordinary platform for bringing together like-minded organizations to solve global health problems, this commitment will allow us to train disaster-prone communities in using this innovative water treatment technology to help ensure more lives saved.”
The DayOne Waterbag™ – a 2.5-gallon water backpack – provides all four elements of municipal water supply: collection, transport, treatment, and protected storage and is specifically designed for use with P&G’s water purification packets. International Medical Corps will pilot the Waterbags in flood-prone areas such as Sudan, South Sudan, and Kenya where communities have to rely on unsafe surface water. It will work with communities to stock Waterbags in households and community centers; promote water and hygiene education through training with the Waterbag; evaluate the training and obtain community feedback. After a flood, its teams will evaluate correct use and compare health indicators affecting sanitation and hygiene.
DayOne Response, Inc. develops and supplies innovative solutions for disaster relief, increasing the effectiveness of relief organizations and ultimately improving and maintaining quality of life. Since its inception in 2010, DayOne has helped address the vital need for clean drinking water through the DayOne WaterbagTM, working in countries such as Nicaragua, Thailand, and, Haiti, while continuing to expand globally. DayOne values prompt recovery, embraces new technologies, and takes pride in saving lives. For more information, visit www.dayoneresponse.com and follow us on Twitter @DayOneResponse and Facebook at facebook.com/dayoneresponse.
About the Clinton Global Initiative
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which are already improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.
CGI’s Annual Meeting is held each September in New York City. CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.