Providing Water to Underserved Communities in Chiapas Mexico

As my inaugural post, I think I want to share a little bit on my specific practice experience. While Mexico has experienced dramatic declines of diarrhea related mortality since 1990, gastrointestinal illness remains the second largest cause of morbidity (Secretaría de Salud, México 2013). This burden falls disproportionately on the poorest, youngest, and most vulnerable, with GI illness incidence rates of: 5% for all the population; 13% for children under five nationwide; and more than 20% for children under five in underserved communities in the south of the country  (Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, México 2013).

According to the Mexican Health Ministry, unsafe water and inadequate hygiene are the leading causes of diarrheal diseases. Although potable water coverage is nominally estimated at 88% in Mexico, several states in the south are critically underserved: Guerrero (62%), Oaxaca (69%), Tabasco (73%), Chiapas (74%), and Veracruz (76%). These statewide averages do not reflect internal disparities, which have systematically left rural areas with even less access: Guerrero (42%), Oaxaca (60%), Tabasco (56%), Chiapas (62%), and Veracruz (57%). In just these five states, there are approximately five million people without access to tap water (INEGI, México 2013).

To address this problem, I will be working with Fundacion Cantaro Azul (FCA). FCA has implemented a kiosk model through their Nuestra Agua Project. The Nuestra Agua kiosks innovatively and economically produce safe drinking water from local sources that are contaminated and unsafe for consumption. These kiosks successfully produce 20-liter containers of safe water at a price of US$0.35 or less, which is 20‐45% of the price charged by commercial vendors (FCA). In my practice experience, I will research ways that the Nuestra Agua social franchise in Chiapas can be more effective and retentive, ensuring that the local communities understand the importance of safe drinking water. Using a holistic approach, my fieldwork will entail interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, as well as water quality analysis to determine ways the communications team can further impact its role in the cycle of accessibility to drinking water. This research can be beneficial for FCA as well as for the local communities, ensuring high acceptance rates for FCA’s work as well as improving public health.

I am really excited to work with FCA to provide a useful resource that most of us who live in developed nations take for granted. If you have any questions feel free to ask me or your can visit FCA's website at http://www.cantaroazul.org.