CALGARY, Sept. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - CAWST, the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology, has announced its latest results, showing that the Calgary-based charity has reached an additional 1.8 million people with safe drinking water or improved sanitation in the past year alone.
The latest results bring CAWST's overall reach to 9.3 million people since its founding in 2001.
The organization is scaling-up its efforts to address maternal, newborn and child (MNCH) health through improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in many of the world's poorest communities.
"CAWST is making a significant contribution to addressing major global health issues," CAWST CEO Shauna Curry says. "Of particular importance are pregnant women and children under two."
Over 2,000 children die each day from water-related diseases, while pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to water-related diseases such as cholera and Hepatitis E. Half the world's population do not have safe water or sanitation.
"This year's results bolster our confidence that we can exceed our target of reaching 20 million people by 2020 with safe drinking water or improved sanitation," adds Ms. Curry. "People from almost every country in the world are accessing our products and services."
An entrepreneurial non-profit engineering consultancy, CAWST's most recent innovation is its online delivery of WASH products and services. Since launching this initiative in 2013, CAWST has grown its client base from 500 clients in 63 countries to over 2,000 in 155 countries.
"I am inspired by CAWST's team. The organization rivals any business in its results and potential," says David O'Brien, CAWST's Chair and longtime donor. "I have personally committed $12 million for 2014-2017 to build CAWST's capability and attract new institutional-level investors."
"The investment by David O'Brien enables us to reach more people with safe drinking water and sanitation in some of the world's poorest communities," Ms. Curry says. "David O'Brien is making a tremendous impact with his investments in health both here at home in Canada and globally."
CAWST will present its results and plans during its AGM & Celebration at the Glenbow Museum in downtown Calgary on Thursday, September 25th, 2014 from 5:00-7:30pm. The public and media are welcome at the event. Space is limited. Please RSVP.
| WHEN: |
Thursday, September 25th, 2014, 5:00pm – 7:30pm |
| WHERE: |
Glenbow Museum (130 9th Ave SE, Calgary) |
| WHAT: |
CAWST's Celebration & AGM |
| MORE INFO: www.cawst.org, 403-243-3285, [email protected]. |
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| Media Contact: |
Christopher Mason, CAWST Communications Officer |
| Cell: 1-587-885-1039 |
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| Email: [email protected] |
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Media: CAWST can arrange interviews with Shauna Curry and David O'Brien prior to and during the AGM event.
Additional Information:
CAWST is a Calgary-based charity providing training and consulting support to clients in more than 150 countries. A total of 9.3 million people are currently using better water or sanitation technologies as a result of projects implemented by CAWST's clients.
Image with caption: "Centre for Affordable Water & Sanitation Technology (CAWST) (CNW Group/Centre for Affordable Water & Sanitation Technology (CAWST))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140922_C2129_PHOTO_EN_5848.jpg
SOURCE: Centre for Affordable Water & Sanitation Technology (CAWST)
Christopher Mason, CAWST Communications Officer, Cell: 1-587-885-1039, Email: [email protected]
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