The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a water purification solution in Rubavu district. The solution called Sûr’Eau, is intended to reduce risks caused by contaminated water, according to a statement released by their publicist David Kampf, recently.

The solution has a chlorine composition which is added to water minutes before use and is designed to protect the young and people living with HIV/Aids.

Ryan Washburn, the USAID Acting Director, observed in a statement that safe water is essential for improving the lives of people. The statement says that all one needs is a cup of Sûr’Eau to purify an entire jerry can of water. That only portion then reduces the risk of one catching diarrhea by 50 percent.

Sûr’Eau is a cost-effective method of preventing waterborne diseases and saving lives, it added.

Across the country, nearly 40 per cent of urban households and over 70 per cent of rural households do not have access to clean water.

Drinking contaminated water increases the risk of contracting diseases, and it has partly been blamed for childhood mortality rate.

With the support of the government and USAID, Sûr’Eau is produced locally and is available in the public and private outlets as a strategy to promote healthy living among citizens.

According to the source, USAID committed itself to support Population Service International (PSI) in implementing this safe-water initiative as part of the five-year $20 million- Behaviour Change and Social Marketing (BCSM) project.

The BCSM project builds the capacity of Rwandan institutions to implement HIV/Aids prevention, malaria and child survival programmes.

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