COMPARING DEFLUORIDATION AND SAFE SOURCING FOR FLUOROSIS MITIGATION IN THE ETHIOPIAN CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY

In the Ethiopian Central Rift Valley (ECRV) an estimated 8 million people are exposed to high levels of naturally occurring fluoride. Consumption of drinking water, beverages, and food puts them at risk of dental and skeletal fluorosis. This paper describes the outcomes of a study comparing the efficacy of the two main mitigation measures, defluoridation and safe sourcing, in terms of sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and vulnerability. The study's outcomes suggest that sourcing drinking water from safe sources is the preferred approach, because it reduces management burden and enables wider coverage. When safe sources are absent, community based bone char fluoride removal systems are proven to be a good alternative. Community involvement before the project is implemented plays a crucial role in the success of defluoridation.