FAIZABAD, Balkh province, Afghanistan - The World Health Organization reports that more than 80% of diseases in developing countries are directly related to poor drinking water and sanitation. With water being a vital source of survival, access to a suitable source is paramount in the overall health of a community.
Master Sgt. Zeljko Cvetkovic fights against this statistic by working to provide basic needs to people in rural Afghanistan. Cvetkovic, a Croatian service member of the Base Protection Group at Regional Command North in Afghanistan, worked diligently to provide a new water tower to the village of Faizabad Dec. 11, so villagers no longer have to worry about their drinking water resources.
“We work with the local villages to provide them with the basic essentials they need to survive,” Cvetkovic said.
The 2011 National Health Survey for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan indicates citizens are living longer and fewer infant deaths are taking place. This is directly related to the access to health care. As these health issues are addressed, it is important to keep in mind that proper hygiene and clean water are a crucial commodity to prolong the life of the people.
The investment of these CIMIC projects pay dividends which cannot be measured. As trust is built between ISAF and these communities, the relationship maintains the flow of conversation.
The main focus of the CIMIC team is to assist in presenting education, clean water and electricity to the areas of Afghanistan that are often overlooked. The water tower is just one of the projects the CIMIC team has provided to the local people. They recently managed the production of a new school in the nearby village of Hamaro Faroq and also hope to provide improvements on developmental features in area villages.
“The children in these villages are an important part of the success of the country,” Maj. Drazen Komandina, a Croatian CIMIC officer said. “When we focus attention on supplying these villages with the needs of the children in mind, they understand that we are investing in the Afghanistan of tomorrow.”
The potential in Afghanistan seems promising when these gestures are made. As illiteracy is a serious issue in the country, the focus on schools shows the positive outlook the team has for the villages.
“We hope that we can soon build an addition to one of the schools in the area,” Cvetkovic states. “When we provide assistance like this to the villages, it motivates them to take responsibility for their future.”
The health survey displays an overall improvement of the quality of life throughout the country. With the dedicated CIMIC team delivering basic needs to the people, the statistics should continue to show an increase for many years to come.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.17.2011 06:44 |
| Story ID: | 81529 |
| Location: | FAIZABAD, AF |
| Web Views: | 148 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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