Lahore: The Coca-Cola Company has partnered with Rotary International, Pakistan National Polio Plus Committeesince 2012with a mission to provide clean drinking water by mitigating thetransmission of water borne diseases in Pakistan. At the Rotary International Convention 2016 being held these days in Seoul, Coca-Cola Pakistan announced funding of Rs. 10 million, under the ‘New World’ program in partnership with United Nations Development Program (UNDP),for the provision offurther 7 solar water filtration plants mainly in Karachi, Sindh andNowshera in KPK, which are at high risk of communal and water borne diseases.
7 solar water filtration plants will benefit a total target population of 140,000 in the catchment areas, with each plant recharging 3,000 gallons of water twice a day per shift. Previously, the reverse osmosis plant in Malir town of Karachi installed in2014has helped in the reduction of water borne diseases by an estimated 70%.
Easier access to clean drinking water helps in improving mortality rates and living standards and it allows women to save time which was previously utilized for the collection of water from far away communities. With community-level awareness campaigns about hygiene and medical education, the medical expenses of families will also decrease due to reduction in diseases.
The partnership between Coca-Cola and Rotary is in line with the Company’s CSR strategy to enhance well-being through the provision of safe drinking water. Acknowledging this partnership at the Rotary International Convention in Seoul, Fahad Qadir, Director Public Affairs and Communications, The Coca-Cola Export Corporation, Pakistan and Afghanistan said “It was of great concern to us that Pakistan remains only one of two polio-risk countries in the world. Therefore, as a socially responsible corporate citizen, we decided to make our contribution to fight the transmission risk of water borne viruses, in partnership with Rotary Pakistan. With a deep commitment for Pakistan’s welfare, ourethos is to create shared value through sustainable development, which is reliant on the health of our nation.”
Speaking of the partnership, Aziz Memon, National Chair, Rotary Pakistan National Polio Plus, emphasized “I’m grateful to Coca-Cola Pakistan’s valor to support efforts of Rotary towards the provision of clean drinking water. A number of water borne viruses are still persistent in Karachi, Peshawar and Killa Abdullah the three known reservoirs of Pakistan. We must make sure that no child is missed and coverage is optimal. To date Pakistan has reported 10 wild polio cases as compared to 14 cases last year; this is an opportunity we cannot miss, in our struggle to provide clean drinking waterto the target areas in 2016.”
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