Prudential Uganda has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Tusafishe, a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving access to clean and safe drinking water. This collaboration aims to address the pressing issue of clean water provision in five schools located in the Mbale District.
The selected schools benefiting from this initiative are Nkoma Secondary School, Mbale High School, Nabuyonga Primary School, Mbale Progressive Secondary School, and Mbale Progressive Annex. Collectively, these schools educate 14,722 students, with Nkoma Secondary School alone serving a student population of 6,500.
Tetteh Ayitevie, CEO of Prudential Uganda, expressed the significance of this partnership, stating,
“This partnership exemplifies our unwavering commitment to building resilient communities in areas we serve and is in line with our purpose, ‘For every life, For every future,’ which speaks to our ambition to add value to the wider community, for a more sustainable, responsible, and inclusive future.”
Currently, these schools spend approximately Ugx. 600,000 to purchase 15,000 kilograms of firewood for water purification, which strains their finances and has adverse environmental consequences. CEO Tetteh emphasized the corporate responsibility to help protect the environment by offering a more sustainable solution.
Henry Othieno, CEO of Tusafishe Limited, highlighted the health implications of unsafe water consumption, citing the National Health Report 2022, which reveals that a significant portion of diseases diagnosed in the Mbale region is attributed to unsafe water and poor hygiene. He commended Prudential for supporting the schools, emphasizing the positive impact on students’ health.
Traditional water purification methods, such as boiling and the use of chlorine and disinfecting tablets, come with high environmental and financial costs. Many schools resort to requiring students to bring costly packaged water. In contrast, Tusafishe has introduced a revolutionary water purification technology capable of purifying up to 4,880 liters daily, eliminating up to 99.999% of disease-causing pathogens from water sources while also safeguarding the environment.
In line with Prudential’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, the initiative will distribute over 3,000 Moringa tree seedlings to communities surrounding the schools. This effort reinforces the commitment to long-term sustainability and addressing climate change.
Prudential’s climate targets encompass decarbonizing its operations and investments and collaborating with investees to ensure a smooth transition to a more sustainable future. This initiative reflects their dedication to these objectives and their determination not to leave anyone behind on the journey to a greener, more sustainable world.