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From Left to Right , Representative to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Lagos State, Okiki Adegoke, UNICEF – Angela Ege, Water Business Director – Vestergaard – Steve Otieno, EnvironFocus Ltd, MD – Obie Agusiegbe, World Health Organization – Dr Tolu ArowoluThe official launch of LifeStraw in Nigeria took place November 14, 2017 at The George in Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria. It was very well attended. In attendance were government Agencies that included Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Imo State Government; Corporates such as Chevron, Oando, U-best Industries, UBA, Zenith Bank; Non-Government Organizations such as UNICEF, World Health Organization, Society of Family Health, Save the Children, Progressive Solidarity Forum, Irede Foundation ; Media houses such as The Guardian, This Day, Punch Newspaper, Business Day, The Nation and more. There were LifeStraw presentations and demonstrations.
LifeStraw is an innovative safe drinking water solution, developed with Nigeria in mind. According to UNICEF Nigeria, about 70 million people, out of a population of 171 million, lack access to safe drinking water and every year, an estimated 124,000 children under the age of 5 die because of diarrhea, mainly due to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. It has also been identified that lack of adequate water and sanitation are also major causes of other diseases, including respiratory infection and under-nutrition. LifeStraw has been designed to address this issue.
Vestergaard, Water Business Director, Steve OtienoLifeStraw is an instant microbiological water purifier made into different models that provide individuals, schools, businesses, families, churches and communities with instant access to safe clean drinking water on the go and in a location. Water used can be from any source – river, lake, well, stream, tap etc.. LifeStraw is committed to redefining the safe drinking water space through technology innovation, product quality and design. They are affordable, durable, easy to install, use and maintain.
EnvironFocus Limited MD, Obie AgusiegbeLifeStraw has been tested and certified by WHO, United States EPA drinking water standards and national laboratories including the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON). They prevent waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, cholera, worms, and cryptosporidiosis. They remove 99.9999 % of bacteria (E. coli, etc.) ;99.99 % of protozoan cysts (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, etc.) reduction) and 99.999 % of viruses (Rotavirus, Hepatitis A).
LifeStraw is made by Vestergaard, a family owned global health company dedicated to improving the health of vulnerable people, most of whom live in developing countries. Their partners include The Carter Centre, Malaria No More, Roll Back Malaria, United Nations Foundations and World Vision.
LifeStraw demonstrations by Steve OtienoVestergaard operates according to a humanitarian entrepreneurship business model, whereby doing good is good business, which is a philosophy shared by EnvironFocus. EnvironFocus is proud to be associated with Vestergaard as the sole distributor of LifeStraw in Nigeria. EnvironFocus being a sustainability consulting firm and a social enterprise is excited about helping Nigeria reduce the amount of waste plastics being generated as result of the sale and use of bottled water and water packets (pure water).
Whole Woman Network, Juliet Ume- Onyido and Kilienma, Chineye UmeikeThere is a lot of immediate help LifeStraw can offer the environment, people and communities in Nigeria by provide safe drinking water. EnvironFocus is looking forward to working with Government, NGOs/ PVOs, Community groups and Local Corporates (B2B) to make this a reality and reach communities inneed. We also welcome partnerships with organizations outside Nigeria interested in assisting poor Nigerian communities obtain safe drinking water as a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative or a non-profit initiative. Send an email to info@environbuzz.com, if interested.
A follow up Launch will be taking place in Abuja, Nigeria in February 2018. More information on Vestergaard can be viewed at http://www.vestergaard.com/ and more information about LifeStraw Nigeria can be seen at https://www.environfocus.com/lifestraw-nigeria/. More pictures from the Launch can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/lifestrawnigeria/.
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