Intervida denounces the fact that 30% of rural homes in Mali lack basic sanitation
Madrid (13/05/2008). In Mali, is in the majority of developing countries, the hygiene and sanitation conditions are characterized by the insufficient domestic use of drinking water and a shortage of access to infrastructures for the evacuation of excrements. According to the Demographic Health Survey in Mali, 23% of households have no latrines; if we focus on rural households, this percentage reaches 30%, as compared with only 2% in the urban areas.
Despite that 42% of households have access to drinking water, the majority of these use water coming from wells. Furthermore, only 8% of homes have running water and approximately 5% of these are served by waters coming from rivers or ponds.
The availability of clean water and latrines could transform the lives of millions of children. More than any other group, these are the most vulnerable to risks associated by contaminated water, scarce sanitation and inadequate hygiene. The combination of factors, such as the use of non-potable water, the lack of water for washing and cooking, and the lack of access to sanitation installations constitute the cause of approximately 88% of deaths by diarrheic diseases; this translates to more than 1.5 million deaths per year, according to the State of the World’s Children 2008.
Diarrhea claims the lives of millions of children each year and poor sanitary conditions and a lack of water is among the latent causes of 10 million of child deaths around the world each year; nearly half of these occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
Simple actions, such as washing one’s hands with soap or ash can prevent many deaths per year. Improved home practices include measures such as the regular use of a toilet or latrine by all household members, the safe elimination of children’s feces, washing one’s hands with soap or ash after going to the toilet and before eating, and the installation of drinking water fountains in the home and in the communities. One basic step towards improving hygiene and sanitation is to provide the communities with the sufficient knowledge and resources to put these basic measures into practice at home.
The creation and improvement of sanitary installations, illnesses associated with diarrhea, which claims the lives of millions of children a year, will be reduced by more than a third. In addition to improving environmental sanitation conditions, these types of measures will contribute largely to the economic and social development of the affected countries.
The inadequacy of essential basic services, combined with insufficient hygiene practices are a main cause of the high incidence in the illnesses derived from poor water conditions, which contribute significantly to the mortality of children under 5 years old due to pneumonia, neonatal complications and malnutrition.
In order to prevent this, INTERVIDA Mali has implemented the ‘Hygiene and Sanitation in the school environment and the community’ project, which informs, raises awareness and trains the communities in order to achieve changes in hygiene and sanitation practices.
The dominance of illnesses associated with hygiene and sanitation cannot be resolved only by curative measures, but rather it is necessary to undertake actions which will have an enduring impact over time, intervening directly with the population in order to encourage change towards healthier behaviors. Aware of this fact, INTERVIDA also plans to sponsor theatrical performances and contests, such as ‘Clean schools, healthy schools’.
The children will be protagonists, acting as health and hygiene messengers, having been previously trained, thus becoming spokespersons for good hygiene and sanitation practices, delivering this message to their peers, families and the population, in general.
To do this, INTERVIDA has provided its schools with sanitation materials, such as garbage bins, brooms, rakes, dustpans and improved sinks and water fountains for the responsible use of water. Furthermore, teachers and students will be trained in general health models and the teachers will create pedagogical worksheets which address food hygiene, personal hygiene and practices favorable to a healthy environment.
About INTERVIDA
FUNDACIÓN INTERVIDA is a nonpartisan, nondenominational and independent development NGO in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Its objective is to contribute to sustainable human development towards improving the living conditions of the most disadvantaged communities around the world. Currently, INTERVIDA is active in various countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, offering its support to nearly five million people.
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