Improving Access to Water and Sanitation Services in High-Risk Areas in Haiti

Haiti

The proposed project aimed to support a 10-year National Plan for the Elimination of Cholera in Haiti over the next three years in the departments of Artibonite, Centre and South East through capacity building of local government to improve water and sanitation infrastructure in the targeted communities,to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene services in communities through the rehabilitation of facilities, local hygiene promotion campaigns and training of local officials and community workers. These were achieved by improving water, sanitation and hygiene services at local schools and local health facilities. The project was implemented by UNICEF, through its Haiti Country Office WASH team, in coordination with the National Department for Potable Water and Sanitation (DINEPA), and directly benefited 385,000 living mainly in rural areas. The project aimed to contribute to the eradication of cholera in Haiti, as well as to the reduction of diarrhoeal diseases, the second leading cause of infant mortality in the country, through the improvement in access to safe water and sanitation, and hygiene practices among children and their families. The project strengthened the capacity of local government and established a verification and certification mechanism to declare and certify communities and Open Defecation Free (ODF). The health inspectors in the South-East were established to perform in partnership with the health staff at departmental and national levels. Access to water was improved for a total of 11,860 persons, representing 237 per cent of planned beneficiaries of 5,000 persons. The rehabilitation of four water systems and four spring catchments have been completed, supplying improved water to an estimated 11,860 people living in remote and hard-to-reach areas. As a result, an estimated population of 47,000 people (7,000 in Bainet and 40,000 in the other 3 communes) in 145 communities (22 in Bainet and 123 in Anse-à-Pitre, Grand Gosier and Thiotte communes) have been triggered to stop open defecation and construct their own sanitation facilities. In terms of hygiene promotion, an estimated 66,200 people in the four target communes have been reached with key hygiene messages through materials provided to community agents, such as sensitisation cards with lifesaving messages including on cholera prevention. Training sessions on hygiene promotion were conducted for 100 agents, 6 supervisors and local committee members. Key messages promoted include handwashing with soap, cleaning of toilets, disinfection of drinking water and cholera prevention. Various field visits indicate good hygiene practices among sensitized populations. Radio messages and demonstrations were also carried out. The project has reached considerably more beneficiaries than planned for water and hygiene (237% and 110% of target reached), and 85% of the sanitation beneficiaries for the reporting period. UNICEF has allocated 40,000 to complete a sanitation pilot project in peri urban areas. Together with the implementing partner, UNICEF has agreed to continue social mobilisation and sanitation/hygiene promotion in the 60 targeted communities. Additionally, to ensure the sustainability of water systems, water management committees were established and trained as per DINEPA guidelines for operating and maintaining water systems. DINEPA will be supported to ensure that water management committees are functional and are carrying out operation and maintenance of WASH facilities.