WATER AND SANITATION
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© UNICEF Côte d'Ivoire/2006/Westerbeek |
Context
The conflict that ended in 2007 has greatly affected regular maintenance and repair of water supply infrastructures, especially in the North of the country. This deterioration, coupled with poor sanitation conditions, increases the risk of transmission of water-related diseases, both in rural and urban areas.
More than 8 million people – 43 % of Côte d’Ivoire’s population – lack appropriate sanitation facilities and over 4 million people still use unsafe drinking water sources, especially in rural areas. Consequently, many children die every day from diarrhea and other diseases related to the lack of water and appropriate sanitation; many more suffer and are weakened by illness.
The lack of access to safe drinking water and appropriate sanitation has many other serious repercussions. Children – and particularly girls – are denied their right to education because they are busy fetching water or are deterred by the lack of separate and decent sanitation facilities in schools. Women are forced to spend large parts of their day fetching water (85.9% of women in Côte d’Ivoire are in charge of supplying their family with water). Poor farmers and workers are less productive due to frequent illnesses, and national economies suffer. Without safe water and appropriate sanitation, sustainable development is impossible.
UNICEF action and impact
The Water and Sanitation sector in Côte d’Ivoire faces two major problems:
- The difficulty for many communities to access safe drinking water in sufficient quantities
- The limited access to sewage infrastructures and latrines, and difficulties in discharging household refuse in urban centres
To address these issues, the UNICEF Water and Sanitation programme focuses on three components:
- The supply of water in community, school and health centres and in peri-urban environment
- The promotion of hygiene and sanitation in community, school and health centres and in peri-urban environment
- The epidemiological surveillance to prevent water-related diseases
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© UNICEF Côte d'Ivoire/2006/Westerbeek |
UNICEF Côte d’Ivoire works in six regions (Dix-Huit Montagnes, Moyen-Cavally, Denguelé, Vallée du Bandama, Marahoué, Worodougou) of the country and in poor neighborhoods of Abidjan (the biggest city of the country) to improve water supply and sanitation facilities and to promote safe hygiene practices in schools, health centres and communities.
During the socio-political crisis, in collaboration with its partners, UNICEF provided urgent relief to communities affected by disrupted water supplies and disease.
Since 2005, 560,000 crisis-affected women and children have benefited from water supply through the rehabilitation of already existing water infrastructures. Community’s environment sanitation and restoration of hygiene conditions were made possible through supply of adequate equipments and awareness raising activities on personal, food and environmental hygiene.
UNICEF repaired around 1,160 village pumps in 2006 and about 1,170 in 2007. Moreover, more than 1,833 water management village committees were reactivated in 2007 and awareness raising activities on hygiene took place in the same villages. UNICEF also improved water supply in 2 hospitals and 5 health centres. 27 health centres are currently undergoing rehabilitation.
Guinea worm infestation has steadily declined, with only 10 cases reported in 2005, against 21 cases in 2004. In 2006, only 5 cases were reported and 0 cases were notified in 2007. Pre-certification for the eradication of Guinea Worm disease in Côte d’Ivoire is currently being prepared.
2008 - International Year of Sanitation
Tap Project
