Water and Sanitation Assessment of Home-Based Care Clients in Malawi

• Source:

• Lockwood K et al. 2006. Baltimore, MD. Catholic Relief Services

• URL:

• http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADJ422.pdf

• Countries:

• Malawi

• Summary:

• The assessment was commissioned by the WHO with the goal of producing evidence-based guidance on water and sanitation needs in home-based care strategies, particularly in resource-poor situations, and to lead to both practical and strategic recommendations at the programme and policy levels, while identifying the most critical measures to be taken by the health sector and the water and sanitation sector to provide short and medium-term solutions in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene support to home-based care. The findings indicate that the water and sanitation needs of HBC clients are severely unfulfilled. The already vulnerable HBC population is regularly falling ill due to diarrhea. Other illnesses and effects of poor water quality are also evident among the HBC clients. In addition, the HBC households are often required to travel long distances to their water sources, which is exceptionally difficult for ill clients.