Employees of the Dubai Health Authority, DHA, will help build 100 wells to provide clean drinking water to families in five countries as part of the 'Year of Zayed' programmes.

Salim bin Lahej, Director of DHA's Fund Department, said, "Through this initiative, we hope to expand on our Founding Father’s philanthropic vision and to celebrate his legacy. We have collaborated with Dar Al Ber Society and the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department to build 100 wells in areas where communities do not have access to clean and safe water. The five countries we have selected are India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Sudan and Senegal."

The department has started building wells in Sri Lanka and later the initiative will extend to other countries.

"Our aim is to ease their suffering by providing them with this most basic need to improve the quality of their life," Bin Lahej said.