Ethiopia, widely recognized as the cradle of human civilisation, with a unique and diverse culture, is the second most populous country in Sub-Saharan Africa with around 94 million citizens. In excess of 80% of these live in remote rural areas though and have limited access to potable water as well as a lack of sanitation/hygiene facilities.
Although Ethiopia is continually experiencing a decline in poverty, improved food security and significant economic growth, it somehow fails to attain longer term sustainability. The country also remains extremely vulnerable to drought, flooding, disease and internal conflicts.
Even though Ethiopia has high maternal and infant mortality rates, poor nutrition and a lack of food security, it still provides asylum and care to around 629,718 refugees from South Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia.
The International Medical Corps (IMC) has operated a diversified humanitarian and development program in Ethiopia since 2003, providing support and training in Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), agricultural livelihoods, nutrition, mental health, prevention of gender-based violence, primary health care, sexual reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and other critically needed programs.
Providing adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities is a key health challenge in many countries across the globe. International Medical Corps is hard at work with its WASH programs, with the aid of the communities, to reduce susceptibility to diarrhoea-related deaths and deaths among malnourished children and pregnant or lactating women who lack access to potable drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities.
IMC installs roof rain water harvesting systems and constructs communal latrines in health centres as well as procuring and donating water storage containers and water purification materials. They also rehabilitate water boreholes, and provide community training to health workers and community volunteers on Community-Led Total Sanitation and hygiene.
Water is vital to our health and according to the UN, is a human right, so it seems ludicrous that there are still people, especially in the cradle of human civilisation, who do not even have decent drinking water or toilet facilities.
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