Equipping Women in India to Improve WASH and Stop Disease

POSTED ON: JULY 23, 2018

Clean water to drink. Toilets and indoor plumbing. Sinks for washing hands. All things that help stop disease and keep us healthy.

But many people living in poverty do not have adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). And this contributes to the spread of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) like leprosy, which can cause disabilities and drive people deeper into poverty.

To interrupt this vicious cycle of poverty, disease and disability, American Leprosy Missions has launched an exciting WASH pilot project in 128 villages in two districts of India.

Thanks to your gifts, WASH is stopping this vicious cycle in India with:

  • WAter: providing a safe water supply for consumption and improving water quality.
  • Sanitation: improving sanitation which reduces the contamination of the environment.
  • Hygiene: teaching better personal hygiene practices and providing health education.

What’s more, this special project is improving WASH and stopping disease by empowering women.

Our partners in India are equipping 14,300 women leaders and their self-help groups by training them on WASH, NTDs, human rights, advocacy and community mobilization. Then they become key influencers and agents of change.

Thanks to the support of people like you, this women-led project is benefiting more than 90,000 families by installing toilets and hand-washing stations, testing water quality, protecting clean water supplies and conducting awareness–raising activities to promote the importance of hygiene and sanitation.

At the same time, health workers and community members are being trained to prevent and treat NTDs.

Thanks to your partnership, this life-changing project is making a real and lasting impact in the lives of the poor and marginalized.

Your support is helping to improve water sources like this hand pump that provides all the drinking water for the elementary school in one village.

This open well is the only water supply for 200 families. Your gifts will help make repairs and infrastructure improvements to this and other essential water points.