Humanitarian Aid

During 2004 staff in INEOS ChlorVinyls continued their support towards the ongoing eradication of guinea worms in Sudan by donating part of their salaries to a campaign that seeks to overcome the highly debilatating Guinea worm illness. 

The disease affects many parts of Africa, but is particularly prevalent in Sudan. The disease is contracted when stagnant dinking water, contaminated with microscopic fleas carrying infected larvae, is consumed.  About a year after the victim drinks infected water, one or more worms emerge through the skin. The worms can be up to 1 metre long and can take between 3-8 weeks to fully emerge through blisters on the skin. The illness is very painful and can leave those affected completely or partially disabled.

During 2004 new PVC straws were designed to incorporate a special metal filter that prevents the intake of harmful bugs and Company donations were used to purchase 450,000 of these filters. In total over 9 million straws have been supplied since the programme was started in 2000, enough to provide every man, woman and child on both sides of the battle lines in southern Sudan with the simple tool they need to protect themselves against the Guinea worm disease.

The Company intends to continue participating in this project and we look forward to the day when the Guinea worm disease has been wiped out completely in Sudan. However, the civil unrest in Sudan has made the eradication programme much more difficult, but even after the first year’s distribution of PVC filter pipes reported cases had been reduced by more than 30%. Over the last couple of years new improved PVC filters have been distributed contributing to a further reduction in reported cases. 

The employees of Hydro Polymer are proud of being a part of the successful eradication of the extremely painful, debilitating illness, the Guinea worm in Sudan. It is very rewarding to know that the efforts of our staff can make such a significant contribution to improving the quality of life for people thousands of miles away.