Projects: Healthcare

These semi-nomadic Tibetans live in loosely clustered villages on mountain slopes, high enough above rivers to escape spring floods but below the worst winter weather.  Drinking water is limited to what can be collected and carried – mostly by girls – from nearby streams which are often dirty and contaminated.  Yet, clean spring water flows year-round in the mountains above the villages.  And AHF’s partner inside Tibet knows how to deliver it to the people.  

AHF has helped build 14 clean water systems by piping spring water from small dams built at these mountain sources straight into village standpipes.  But, as with many things, the building is just the start. AHF's partner also holds health and sanitation talks, provides assistance building simple toilets (yes, there is a contest for the best one) and helps the villages form local committees to manage and maintain the pipeline. 

None of this would be possible without the full participation of the villagers, who help carry pipe and dig five-foot deep trenches for the length of the pipeline.  Their months of hard work pay off:  better health for people and animals, no more daily work carrying dirty water, and more time for their children to learn. Our partner reports “the villagers are very enthusiastic about the health talks.  They come to us with tears in their eyes, saying no one ever told us these things before.”