Innovations in Water and Sanitation – Helping People Living with HIV to Access Better Water and Sanitation Facilities

• Source:

• Catholic Relief Services

• URL:

• http://www.crsprogramquality.org/storage/pubs/watsan/WatSan-innovations-PLHIV2.pdf

• Summary:

• A healthy environment is crucial for maintaining the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS, and for the success of home-based care. The WHO estimates that 85 to 90 percent of diarrheal illnesses in developing countries can be attributed to unsafe water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices, such as handwashing with soap, treatment and safe storage of water, and safe feces disposal. Proper care requires not only safe drinking water, but also larger quantities of water for hygiene and sanitation purposes, and because of physical limitations caused by HIV/ AIDS, the design of water and sanitation facilities greatly influences effective access to these services. Unfortunately, water and sanitation services are extremely limited in many of the countries most affected by the HIV/ AIDS pandemic.