scholarly journals Sustainability of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in Central America

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel I. Sabogal ◽  
Elizabeth Medlin ◽  
Gonzalo Aquino ◽  
Richard J. Gelting

The American Red Cross and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated on a sustainability evaluation of post-hurricane water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions in Central America. In 2006 and 2009, we revisited six study areas in rural El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua to assess sustainability of WASH interventions finalized in 2002, after 1998's Hurricane Mitch. We used surveys to collect data, calculate indicators and identify factors that influence sustainability. Regional sustainability indicator results showed there was a statistically significant decline in access to water. The presence of sanitation facilities had not changed since the beginning of the project; however, maintenance and use of latrines declined but continued to meet the goal of 75% use after 7 years. The hygiene indicator, hand washing, initially declined and then increased. Declines in water access were due to operational problems related to storm events and population changes. Sanitation facilities were still present and sometimes used even though they reached or surpassed their original design life. Changes in hygiene practices appeared related to ongoing hygiene promotion from outside organizations. These results provide useful input for making WASH programs more sustainable and informing future, more in-depth research into factors influencing sustainability.

EDIS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2005 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald H. Schmidt ◽  
Keith L. Schneider ◽  
Renée M. Goodrich ◽  
Amarat Simonne ◽  
Douglas L. Archer

This document contains a summary of general recommendations to protect the safety of food and water in the event of a hurricane, flooding, or related natural disaster. These recommendations have been adapted from those developed under National Recommendations for Disaster Food Handling, a multi-state grant involving Cooperative Extension collaborators from Tennessee, Florida, and Missouri as well as the American Red Cross and Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Recommendations have also been included from additional up-to-date sources such as the: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DOACS), Florida Department of Health (DOH), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and American Red Cross. This document is FSHN0520, one of a series of the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 2005. FSHN0520/FS131: Safe Handling of Food and Water in a Hurricane or Related Disaster (ufl.edu)


2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 (6) ◽  
pp. 436-459
Author(s):  
Deborah Moll ◽  
Julie Jacobson ◽  
Rebecca Hart McElroy ◽  
Raquel Sabogal ◽  
Daniel Finan ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah M. Moll ◽  
Rebecca H. McElroy ◽  
Raquel Sabogal ◽  
Lana F. Corrales ◽  
Richard J. Gelting

In response to Hurricane Mitch, which struck Central America in October–November 1998, the American Red Cross (ARC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborated on a 3-year evaluation of the public health impact of ARC's water, sanitation and hygiene education activities in eight study areas in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. The evaluation compared: 1) access to and use of water and sanitation facilities, 2) the use of hygienic behaviours, and 3) diarrhoeal prevalence in children younger than 3 years of age before (February 2000) and after (February 2002) the interventions had been implemented. The evaluation included household and key informant interviews designed to measure these three components. Water quality of community water sources and household water was evaluated by measuring levels of indicator bacteria. During the final survey, an infrastructure evaluation provided a review of the design, construction, and current operation and maintenance of the water systems and latrines. The integrated water and sanitation infrastructure interventions and hygiene education programmes implemented following Hurricane Mitch effectively decreased diarrhoea prevalence in the target communities.


Water Policy ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 627-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edina Sinanovic ◽  
Sandi Mbatsha ◽  
Stephen Gundry ◽  
Jim Wright ◽  
Clas Rehnberg

The burden of water-related disease is closely related to both the socio-economic situation and public health issues like access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene services. Poverty eradication, through improved access to water and sanitation, is the South African government's major priority. This is partly achieved through subsidising the cost of water and sanitation provision to the poor in rural areas. Whilst the new policies have made a remarkable impact on improved access to water and sanitation services, a general problem since the new approach in 1994 has been the lack of integration of policies for water and sanitation and health. This paper analyses the policies concerning rural water supply and sanitation in South Africa. It considers the structure of institutions, the division of responsibilities and legislated and financial capacity of the South Africa's water sector. A more integrated approach for the policies aiming at water access, sanitation and health is needed. In addition, as the local government's capacity to implement different programmes is limited, a review of the financing system is necessary.


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