FACE AFRICA TO RECEIVE 1 MILLION PACKETS OF PUR™

Boston, MA – January 2, 2009 – FACE Africa, a non-profit that works to replicate innovative and results-oriented non-profit programs in African communities, today announced that Procter and Gamble has agreed to donate 1 million packets of their water purification flocculent disinfectant, the so-called PUR Purifier of Water (“PUR”).

The donation of PUR will go towards FACE Africa’s efforts to bring point-of-use water purification methods to communities in Liberia, with a focus on rural Liberia where access to safe drinking water is almost non-existent.

“Poor water and sanitation systems are major problems in Liberia,” said Saran Kaba Jones, Founder and Executive Director, FACE Africa. “The war compounded the sufferings of millions of Liberians who, even before the war, had little or no access to basic human needs such as safe drinking water and basic sanitation. For the majority of Liberians, pipe-borne water as well as other basic health needs remain unachievable for the foreseeable future. We believe that a necessary starting point in rehabilitating the country is to provide easy access to safe drinking. Doing so will reduce the incidence of water borne diseases.”

Water-borne bacteria cause diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, and typhoid fever among other diseases. Among the young and elderly, these conditions are often fatal. According to the Liberia WASH Consortium, poor water and sanitation systems leads to 42 percent of Liberian children under age 5 dying from malaria and 22 percent under 5 dying from diarrhea. The great news regarding PUR is that scientists from the John Hopkins University tested the product in Liberia in 2005 and showed that PUR reduced diarrhea incidence by 90% in households that used the product versus control households that did not use the product.

FACE Africa’s long term goal is to establish more sustainable supply and distribution networks of point-to-use water treatment materials. The second method of water purification they plan to introduce is based on a solar-powered nano-porous membrane known by its trade name as the Sky Station.  This system is capable of producing 10,000 liters of clean water a day and the porosity of the membrane allows for the removal bacteria, viruses, turbidity and other contaminants. 

About FACE Africa

FACE Africa works to fill the gap between innovative and results-oriented non-profit programs and communities in Africa that can most benefit from their unique programs and services. The organization supports programs that address rural issues affecting women and children in four key areas: education, health/nutrition, clean water, and technology. Their initial and primary focus is on Liberia, a country in West Africa emerging from a long and devastating civil war. Upon successful implementation of their programs in Liberia, FACE Africa will seek to expand operations to other countries with similar challenges and needs, Sierra Leone being their next country for expansion. For more information, please visit www.faceafrica.org.

Contact:

+1 (617) 302-5038

press@faceafrica.org