The Rotary International Foundation of Evanston, Illinois has awarded a $50,000 Global Grant to the Rotary Club of Marble Falls and the Huejutla (way-hoot-la) Centenario Club of Huejutla de Reyes, Mexico. The purpose of the grant is to establish water purification stations primarily in the indigent Sierra Madres Mountains just outside of Huejutla. The program will be a joint effort of the Rotary, the County of Huejutla and the CECyTE magnet school also located in Huejutla. In addition to the Marble Falls Noon Rotary Club, the project is also being funded by other area clubs including the Rotary Daybreak Club of Marble Falls, The Rotary Club of Burnet and the Rotary Club of Lakeway/Lake Travis.
Although no longer as common worldwide, cholera is still highly prominent in this region that struggles with poor water contamination and unregulated sanitation. The disease is spread from person to person through water and contaminated feces, from both animals and humans, causing serve sickness and even death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 90% of Mexico’s cholera cases are from the state of Hidalgo, where Huejutla is located. Hidalgo lies north east of Mexico City.
The initial project will place 4 purification stations in the region. One of the stations will serve as a training site that will teach students to maintain and operate the purification sites. The CECyTE School has an enrollment of over 500 students many from the indigent areas. The school also plans to maintain a permanent program of water purification and sanitation. Along with area Rotarians they plan an extensive sanitation education program. This project, if successful, will be sustaining leading to dozens more stations in state of Hidalgo.