Addis Ababa October 26 (WIC) -  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation today announced the completion of several water facilities in Ethiopia, which provides safe drinking water to over 46, 000 Ethiopians.

According to a press release the US Embassy here sent to WIC, the project executed under the Water and Development Alliance (WADA) initiative by the Millennium Water Alliance, included the rehabilitation and construction of water systems and improved pit latrines fit with hand washing facilities.    

“The public-private partnership has been tremendously successful. Now, tens of thousands of Ethiopians in the Amhara region have access to safe drinking water,” Thomas H. Staal, USAID mission director stated.    

WADA is a joint initiative between USAID and the Coca-Cola Company that currently operates in 23 countries world wide to protect and improve the sustainability of watersheds, increase access water supply and sanitation services for the world’s poor, and enhance productive uses of water.    

The Completed water facilities were formally entrusted to beneficiary communities in the Amhara state at a ceremony conducted by the state water and health bureau.

Officials from USAID/Ethiopia, the East African Bottling S.C. based in Addis Ababa, government officials and other dignitaries participated in the event. 

Since March 2004, the Millennium Water Alliance and its partners have implemented more than 800 safe drinking water supply systems in Ethiopia.