Academy for Educational Development

POUZN's mission is to implement a diarrhea reduction project using point-of-use (POU) water disinfection and zinc treatment. POU products can be used to prevent diarrhea by disinfecting water through chemical treatment, filtration, irradiation or a combination of these approaches. POUZN also focuses on the treatment of diarrhea by increasing the usage of zinc which has been shown to be highly effective in reducing the prevalence and severity of diarrhea.

POUZN's approach is to engage both the commercial and public sectors, including local NGOs, in addressing diarrheal disease through advocacy for the adoption of zinc and POU products by opinion leaders and building partnerships with selected zinc and POU producers.

POUZN plans to bring zinc and POU to underserved and difficult-to-reach populations by building on the private sector platform to produce quality products, distribute products nationwide, including rural areas, and develop the market through appropriate demand generating marketing strategies. In addition to developing the private sector production of zinc and POU, POUZN will empower the consumer to set standards of affordability, access and acceptability. Through its local participatory approach, POUZN intends to create a measurable health impact and leave behind a sustainable project without continued need for donor re-investment.