Nuevo Chambira is an indigenous community in rural Peru. The residents experienced a severe water crisis, primarily due to the contamination of the river, the community’s only water source. The water from the river, which was murky and full of debris, posed significant health risks to the community. Residents reported seeing worms in the water, but they had no other option. Consequently, children in the community were in a constant cycle of illness, leading to regular visits to the health clinic for deworming treatments. Despite these interventions, the cycle of infection persists due to the continued consumption of contaminated river water.
Santiago Carihua, a local fisherman, shared an alarming story of the water crisis in Nuevo Chambira. He said, “The quality of the river water was bad and contained a lot of bacteria that affect our health, but it was our only source. For many years, we drank the river water. We always saw cases of parasites, and it affected the children most. One day, a child screamed, saying, ‘I’m suffocating, help me!’ I saw him and realized that parasites were coming from his mouth and nose. I was very scared, but I tried to help him. Thank God he is now healthy.”
Since Living Water came to install a new safe water system, the lives and well-being of the residents have been transformed. The new safe water source does away with the arduous and hazardous treks to the contaminated river, dramatically improving safety for women and children and reclaiming valuable time previously lost to water collection. The instances of waterborne diseases and parasitic infections have plummeted, leading to healthier, more energetic children able to attend school regularly and participate in community life. Families can save money they spent on frequent visits to health clinics now that they are free from the constant threat of illness and the need to have their children dewormed.
