Clean Water & Diarrhea Prevention
Providing safe water sources and innovative ORS solutions to combat diarrheal disease
Program Overview
Omni Med’s Protected Water Sources initiative is built on one core principle: water must be safe. Guided by World Health Organization (WHO) standards, we test and monitor all sources we help construct using microbiological assays that measure E. coli and coliform bacteria — key indicators of fecal contamination.
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Our studies show that re-routing water through layers of clay, sand, and porous rock makes it up to 50 times cleaner, dramatically reducing the risk of diarrheal disease — the second leading cause of child death in Uganda. Each protected source now provides safe drinking water for 30–300 households (180–1800 people).
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We aim to build 1–2 new sources each year, depending on funding and community readiness.
Protected Water Source Construction
Six-step process for sustainable clean water access
1. Pre-Construction Assessment
Microbiological Testing Protocols. The results are in terms of quantitative levels of total coliforms and E. coli per mL of water and include qualitative descriptions of the pre-construction state of the water source. The GPS coordinates must also be obtained for the site(s) tested.
2. Community Mobilization
Discussion must first occur with the LC1 and will be followed by broader discussion with the community and election of community officials who will oversee the construction process and permanently manage and safeguard the PWS.
3. Construction Planning
Detailed planning with community members responsible for the project, emphasizing community ownership and responsibility for completion.
4. Construction Process
1-2 week construction using gravel, sand, concrete, and bricks. Water becomes usable 2-3 weeks after completion, followed by official opening ceremony.
5. Post-Construction Testing
Water quality assessment 2-3 weeks after construction using same protocols, demonstrating 50x reduction in contamination levels.
6. Ongoing Monitoring
Regular water quality assessments and GPS mapping using BaseCamp software to track all protected water source locations and performance.
Before vs After Water Source Construction
We are currently looking to measure the mortality impact of our Protected Water Sources program and evaluate the efficacy in saving lives while analyzing how many people have benefited. The graphic above details just how these protected water sources are constructed.
Harry Barnes
Memorial Project
Our protected water source program is dedicated to the memory of Harry Barnes, a longtime Omni Med board member and advocate for social justice who served from the organization's founding in 1998 until his death in 2012.
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We constructed 10 protected water sources in Harry's memory, each complete with a plaque remembering him. Clean water derived from water sources that local villagers construct—with OmniMed's guidance and financing—provides a living and lasting testimony to a man we all knew and admired.
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Average cost per protected water source: $800 USD
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50x reduction in coliform bacteria compared to open sources
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Each source serves 180-1,800 people (30-300 households)
STUDENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Students can contribute to our clean water and diarrhea prevention efforts through various research and implementation opportunities:
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Water quality testing and microbiological analysis
ORTube distribution and training implementation
Community mobilization for protected water source construction
Evaluating ORS preparation methods and effectiveness
Developing educational materials for diarrhea prevention
The ORTube Innovation
The ORTube is a cylindrical device with measurement lines for salt, sugar, and water, developed by Jack Waters, MD/ PhD (soon) and Jacob Dubner MD/ MPH (soon). It standardizes ORS measurements for optimal treatment results when pre-made ORS packets aren't available. Jack and Jacob developed the initial concept and started working with Omni Med when both were high school students.
Many villages in Mukono district are eight or more kilometers away from the closest health center. Making ORS at home is effective but faces issues with standardization and education. The ORTube addresses these access and standardization gaps.
Research Results (2025 Study):
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69% of VHTs using ORTube met all 4 WHO criteria vs. only 11% using traditional methods
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100% achieved correct total osmolarity range vs. 67% with traditional methods
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Much lower variance in measurements, reducing risk of dangerous concentrations
ORTube Implementation Strategy
Diarrheal disease is the second leading killer of children under five in Uganda. Our comprehensive approach addresses this challenge through two key interventions: constructing protected water sources and providing innovative tools for oral rehydration therapy (ORS) preparation.
Manufacturing & Procurement
Partnership with Kampala-based 3D printing service (3dprint.ug) for local production.
Cost: 8,000 UGX per tube for orders of 1,000+ units (~$2,060 USD total).
VHT Distribution
Distribution during quarterly trainings and home visits. Currently 406 ORTubes in use, with 791 VHTs still needing devices.
Target: equip all 1,200+ VHTs within 3 years.
Community education
Community health talks in villages about diarrhea, dehydration, and ORS.
Highlighting VHT work and ORTube capabilities to save children's lives.