According to WHO and UNICEF’s report 2015, “Water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities: status in low- and middle-income countries and way forward”, more than one in three health care facilities in low-resource settings do not have any access to water at all. When the reliability, safety and distance of the water supply is taken into account, that ratio increases to 1 in 2.
Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and adequate treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage. Preventing human contact with faeces is part of sanitation, as is hand washing with soap.
Sanitation systems aim to protect human health by providing a clean environment that will stop the transmission of disease, especially through the fecal–oral route. For example, diarrhea, a main cause of malnutrition and stunted growth in children, can be reduced through sanitation. There are many other diseases which are easily transmitted in communities that have low levels of sanitation, such as ascariasis (a type of intestinal worm infection or helminthiasis), cholera, hepatitis, polio, schistosomiasis, trachoma, to name just a few.
Masaka Diocesan health department together with different stakeholders has been on the campaign of proper sanitation within Masaka Diocese. It has helped to construct water tanks and VIP latrines in schools and to ensure that the health units give a conducive environment that promotes proper hygiene.
Water equals life, an organization from USA partnered with Masaka Diocese to provide water filters to all the health units in Masaka Diocese. This program is intended to make provision of safe and clean water accessible. After providing to the health units, the program will extend to the community and homes.
The campaign goes on to encourage people into using clean water both for drinking and home consumption. It is also important that communities get awareness that poor sanitation can be very detrimental to growth and development.