Problem Statement

Access to clean water means better health and hygiene. In health facilities, clean water enables health workers to practice effective infection prevention, the most critical element of safe patient care, and an important component of disease prevention and outbreak preparedness. Adequate sanitation and good cleaning practices also make facilities safer and more sanitary for patients and staff. However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in four health facilities lacks basic water services, impacting more than two billion people worldwide. Poor water and sanitation is common in the least-developed countries, especially in rural Africa. The 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak highlighted widespread problems with water access, infection control, and triage in health facilities and communities in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. More than 500 health workers died from cross-infection, and thousands of patients died from unsafe care (UNDP). In 2016, JSI found that 59% of Sierra Leone’s health posts lacked access to clean water, 48% had no waste pits or working incinerators, and none had lighting for services after nightfall, like childbirth. These problems are the consequence of a lack of investment in rural communities. Even when infrastructure is upgraded, insufficient maintenance results in premature breakdowns and wasted resources. Poor access to clean water and sanitation is also a widespread problem for families; 785 million people worldwide lack clean drinking water (WHO). In households, simple behaviors that improve hygiene and reduce disease transmission, such as handwashing with soap, are not commonly practiced due to poor knowledge, unfavorable conditions, and limited resources.