River of Life Ministries and its leader Pastor Jason Tonn of Missoula City in Montana State in the United States of America have donated 25 water purification machines to Othakarhaka Foundation, a Mulanje based local organization.

 

The machines are called life straws, the name is derived from their manufacturer, Life Straw Company.

 

Pastor Tonn in his brief speech after presenting the machines to Othakarhaka Foundation said they were reliably informed that the Tropical Cyclone Freddy damaged the water system and the affected communities are drinking from unprotected water sources, hence their response.

 

"While we expect the affected people to have potable water, we also want to connect them to the church," said Pastor Tonn. 

 

 

Pastor Tonn said each machine has a capacity of serving up to 100 people with safe water for three to five years.

 

Founder and Director of Othakarhaka Foundation Ida Puliwa Mwango told Zodiak Online that the support will go a long way in preventing outbreak of waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhea in villages that will benefit from the facilities and she thanked Pastor Tonn and his team for the support.

 

"The water facilities will be installed in selected villages in Traditional Authorities Nkanda and Mabuka," said Mwango.

 

The value of the 25 machines is 19, 000 US Dollars which is equivalent to K19 million.