The world is in the midst of a global sanitation crisis – about 2.3 billion people lack access to even basic sanitation services. Ensuring people around the world have access to basic sanitation services is vital to preventing the spread of infectious diseases and protecting our health. [source: CDC]
Haiti suffers from the worst water and sanitation infrastructure in the Western Hemisphere. In May 2020, Heart to Heart International-Haiti was awarded a grant from UNICEF to begin the “Accelerating Sanitation and Water for All” program in August 2020. This initiative will take place in Lascahobas, Haiti, three hours northeast of Port-au-Prince.
The goals of this program are:
- to provide sustainable access to sanitation to 10,000 individuals
- provide 6,000 people with sustainable access to basic handwashing facilities
- provide three schools and two health centers with access to an improved water source and toilets
- to encourage menstrual hygiene management programs
- to accompany these communities in reducing sexual exploitation and domestic violence
Even before COVID-19, we knew increasing access to clean water and improved sanitation were key to preventing the spread of water-borne and diarrheal disease in resource-poor communities. As we are in the midst of a global health crisis, clean water and sanitation are crucial steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
We are encouraged by the work of our Heart to Heart International – Haiti team as they help protect thousands of people from disease through this program.
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