Deya’s Story: Fighting Disease with Clean Water

Awa Deya Idriss, a resident of the Ndjamena neighborhood in Birao, Central African Republic (CAR), knows the heavy toll of unsafe water. Before World Vision stepped in, her community relied on a contaminated well—shared with animals like dogs, snakes, and goats, and used by weary travelers and taxi drivers passing through. 

“We were forced to drink this water,” Deya recalls, “and it gave us illness.” The consequences were devastating: vomiting, diarrhea, and relentless itching plagued her family, and tragically, she lost her grandson to a drowning in another unsafe water point. 

Yet, they had no choice but to keep using it. Then, World Vision installed a clean water well. 

“Our health improved,” Deya says gratefully. “The illnesses—stomach aches, itching, vomiting—have left us.” Now, the old wells are left to the animals, and her community drinks safely, free from sickness and sorrow.