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Louisville, KY (February 22, 2023) – Safe water equipment and other critical supplies are now being distributed across Turkey to aid communities rebuilding after the devastating earthquake. Louisville-based organization WaterStep has deployed BleachMakers primarily for distribution to pediatric hospitals across the country. The equipment is now in Adana, Turkey and en route to the National Pediatric Association where Professor Dr. Tacettin Inandi, Director of the Public Health Department at the Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Medical School, is quickly coordinating the distribution of the equipment in country.
The BleachMaker is a portable device that uses water, salt and a 12vDC power source to produce powerful disinfectant used for cleaning, cooking, bathing and even sanitizing hospitals and medical clinics. It is compact, easy-to-use comes with an instruction manual that is provided in Turkish.
WaterStep Founder and CEO Mark Hogg said, “Natural disasters strip familiar foundations leaving hope lost in a fog. Responding health workers manage physical challenges, emotional trauma and limited resources. Imagine little safe water and little or no disinfectant on hand. Wherever people are providing relief, WaterStep relieves their worry and so they can always have these basics on hand on site. Thus, disaster workers can focus more energy on what’s important; giving hope.”
WaterStep has worked with the Ahiska Turk Community of Louisville and GE to quickly deploy equipment to Turkey as well as other Louisville nonprofit organizations. The recent shipment was a collaborative effort between several Louisville organizations who have come together before to respond to disasters around the world. In total, 24,000 lbs of supplies including 200,000 medical items from SOS, 80 BleachMakers from WaterStep, 70,000 meals from Love the Hungry, and 800 wool blankets from the local Red Cross were deployed and distributed to hospitals in Turkey. The UPS Foundation provided transportation. The total value of donated items is approximately $145,000.
WaterStep is asking for the community’s help to fund additional support for Turkey during this ongoing crisis, which could halt their municipal water systems for years to come. Donations can be made online at waterstep.org
About WaterStep
WaterStep, headquartered in Louisville, KY, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that believes everyone should have access to safe water and that no one should suffer from waterborne illnesses. WaterStep implements water projects and equips people with tools and training in water purification, disaster relief, sanitation, health education, and well repair. Since its founding in 1995, WaterStep has brought safe water to more than 7.8 million people in over 60 countries. To learn more, call (502) 568-6342 or visit waterstep.org.
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