USAID/SWSS
Poor sanitation and contaminated water are leading causes of water borne diarrheal diseases.
Despite the many challenges of living in remote areas of Afghanistan, diarrhea remains a prominent problem threatening children less than five years of age. This easily preventable condition is most often caused by poor hygiene and sanitation. Through its Afghan Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation (SWSS) project, USAID is implementing a Community Led-Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach in Chenar-e-Gunjishkan of Kalafgan District in Takhar Province, which empowers residents to take responsibility for improving their own communal sanitation practices. A community health worker summed up the results of the Project by stating, “I am responsible for provision of oral rehydration salt sachets for children suffering from diarrhea. I was distributing too many sachets before the CLTS initiative started, but since last month, I was asked for only one sachet.”
USAID/Afghanistan Program Highlights: 3/1/2011-3/15/2011