The program support initiatives aimed at developing and sustaining WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure in health facilities, schools, and other community aggregation centers. It further supports activities that play a crucial role in fostering behavioral change. By ensuring that target communities have access to safe and clean water that is both available and accessible, the program addresses fundamental public health concerns. The provision of reliable water sources inhibits stunting among children, enhances education quality by improving learning environments, and supports overall human health and well-being. These outcomes demonstrate the multifaceted benefits of robust WASH infrastructure in community settings.
Key components of the program include supporting the drilling and installation of boreholes, constructing waterborne ablution blocks, building capacity among essential WASH stakeholders, and implementing behavioral change interventions. These activities collectively contribute to creating sustainable access to clean water while promoting hygiene practices critical for preventing disease transmission. Importantly, these services are integrated within existing delivery systems through strategic partnerships with government agencies acting as primary service providers.
Furthermore, collaboration extends beyond governmental bodies to include foundations, church-based organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the broader community. This multi-sectoral partnership approach ensures resource mobilization, community ownership, and long-term sustainability of WASH infrastructure projects. Ultimately, such coordinated efforts facilitate enduring behavioral changes that improve public health outcomes across diverse population groups.
FACTS
Global
- 27% of the global population (2.2 billion people) lacked “safely managed drinking water”– meaning water at home, available, and safe.
- 43% of the global population (3.5 billion people) lacked “safely managed sanitation” – meaning access to a toilet or latrine that leads to treatment or safe disposal of excreta.
- 25% of the global population (2.0 billion people) did not have access at home to a handwashing facility with soap and water.
Summary of Water and Sanitation Situation in Zambia
As per the Joint Monitoring Program Estimates retrieved in 2024:
- 13% of healthcare facilities lack any water service
- 21% of schools lack basic water access
- 17% of schools lack basic sanitation
- 32% of households lack basic water access
- Among the poorest quintile, 60% of households lack access to a basic water service
- 64% of households lack basic sanitation
- 82% of household lack basic hygiene facilities