Hygiene and sanitation in Burkina Faso: The World Waternet Foundation raises awareness among the population of the 7th district of Ouagadougou

The World Waternet Foundation, in collaboration with the association Afrique Solidaire, is raising awareness of hygiene and sanitation among the populations of the unhoused districts of Boassa and Wapassi. The activity took place this Saturday, March 25, 2023, in the district n°7 of Ouagadougou.

Diseases related to unsafe water and lack of access to sanitation are the cause of more than one million deaths per year worldwide. And developing countries are the most affected. Faced with this situation, the World Waternet Foundation has undertaken to raise awareness of hygiene and sanitation among the populations of the districts of Boassa and Wapassi, located in the 7th district of Ouagadougou, with the assistance of the association Afrique Solidaire.

This initiative comes after a study that showed the difficulties encountered by the populations in terms of hygiene and sanitation in these areas. It is organized in conjunction with the National Office of Water and Sanitation (ONEA). It is part of the implementation of the "drinking water supply project in the districts of Ouagadougou n°7".

The relief of the inhabitants

"Previously, we had difficulty accessing drinking water because of the long distances we had to travel to get it. This problem is now solved thanks to the standpipes we have benefited from," said Habibou Ilboudo, a resident of Boassa.

For her, the sensitization on good hygiene and sanitation practices will allow them to break with the bad habits that are harmful to their health.

Indeed, to better convey the message, several images were presented to the target populations to explain to them all the advantages they would gain by observing the advice given.

The districts of Boassa and Wapassi are equipped with five standpipes
The Urban Wash Department of the Water for Sustainable Development project (ECDD), with the contribution of the association Afrique Solidaire, has supported ONEA in the construction of five standpipes. This, with the aim of providing local residents and internally displaced persons with drinking water near their concessions," said Kevin Dipama, Fasokoom project manager.

At the end of the stage of granting the standpipes to the populations, the donors wanted to make sure by this sensitization that they now benefit from drinking water. In order to collect water and keep it in the best conditions, appropriate containers were distributed to the beneficiaries.

The "Water for Sustainable Development" (WSSD) project is implemented by SNV, a Dutch development organization, in consortium with the World Waternet Foundation.

The ECDD project aims at strengthening institutions involved in water, sanitation and agriculture management such as water agencies (WAs), local water committees (LWCs), municipalities and farmers' umbrella organizations. The project is funded by the Dutch Embassy in Burkina Faso.

Source: lefaso.net