The United Arab Emirates Red Crescent (UAERC) has received 10,000 mobile water purification devices called ‘LifeStraw’ from BinSina Pharmacy as part of a joint campaign to provide safe drinking water to needy populations in developing countries.

The donation will enable the UAERC to launch the second stage of the campaign that entails distributing the LifeStraw devices to people who have no access to pure drinking water. 

The LifeStraw is a simple flute-shaped device that contains a water filter and an iodine chamber designed to purify water instantly, said a UAE Red Crescent official.

Mohammed Abdullah Alhaj Al Zarooni, manager of the Dubai branch of the UAE Red Crescent, said 'the 'Lifestraw' campaign generated enthusiastic response from donors through the efforts of BinSina Pharmacy which partnered with us in executing the program.”

“Water contamination is a common hazard facing communities in many parts of the world and its effects are as severe as natural catastrophes. This silent catastrophe needs the support of local, expatriate and international community, public and private companies and businessmen and charitable individuals to help needy populations which do not have even basic life supports, especially in Africa and some Asian countries.”

Under the campaign, BinSina Pharmacy sold LifeStraw devices to its customers. The devices were collected in special boxes located at BinSina Pharmacy branches across the UAE. The devices will be distributed by Red Crescent to different countries in the Third World.

Ayman Hanbali, marketing manager, BinSina Pharmacy said the campaign was designed to provide the most effective protection from water pollution by ensuring them safe water to assure sustainable health.

'Unsafe water kills millions of people every year. This campaign provides a comprehensive, integrated and coordinated vision and strategy to provide much greater access to clean water in poor countries and BinSina’s contribution to this program comes from its expertise in this area,” he noted.

Created by Danish innovator Torben Vestergaard Frandsen, the straw is made of plastic and resembles a flute. Inside are filters and a chamber impregnated with iodine. LifeStraw was developed as a practical response to the billions of people who are still without access to safe water. It can be worn around the neck and requires no electrical power or spare parts and it filters up to 700 litres of water with 99.999 per cent certainty.

Hanbali said the joint campaign between UAERC and BinSina Pharmacy was an ongoing initiative to prevent waterborne diseases that kill 6,000 people everyday, mainly infants and children.

“It is possible to save them through continuous humanitarian and charity efforts. This joint campaign is a concrete contribution towards that goal,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service