Ensuring safe water for the needy with mobile purification tool

Dubai: Emiratis and expatriates have joined a campaign to provide safe water supply to needy populations in the developing countries by donating a mobile water purification tool called LifeStraw, organisers the UAE Red Crescent Authority and BinSina Pharmacy said.

The LifeStraw includes a disinfectant filter which kills bacteria, and active carbon which removes parasites and gives the water a better taste.

Created by Danish inventor 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.

"Access to safe drinking water is crucial to the livelihood of millions of people living in the Third World. This campaign introduces a user friendly and low-cost tool that is appropriate for the vulnerable populations who need safe water around the world," said Mohammad Abdullah Alhaj Al Zarouni, Manager, Dubai branch of the UAE Red Crescent.

"LifeStraw will save lives by providing a simple way to purify drinking water. This non-profit campaign will sell LifeStraw, at cost, to our customers to be given after that to UAERC, which will manage the distribution. The pharmacy aims at leveraging this partnership with UAERC to fulfil a broader social need," said Ayman Hanbali of BinSina Pharmacy.