Grameen Swapna
empowering underprivileged community
Water & Sanitation for life appeal
Diarrhoea kills more children every year than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. (WHO) 884 million people across the world do not have access to clean water, this equates to nearly one in eight people worldwide. (WHO/UNICEF) 2.5 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation, this equates to approximately two out of every five people across the world. (WHO/UNICEF). Currently 20% of people around the world lack access to safe water and an additional 5 million die each year from waterborne illnesses, such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhea. That adds up to more than 6,000 people, mostly children, dying every day from preventable diseases. We believe that clean, safe water, access to sanitation and knowledge of good hygiene practices are necessary components to public health and we’ve worked to include water and sanitation into our community development programs around the world. We’ve also been educating local health workers on the importance of sanitation and teaching them how to recognize and treat symptoms of waterborne illnesses.
As well as providing clean water in emergencies, Grameen Swapna works to improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene to stop the spread of diseases in vulnerable communities of Bangladesh. We also lead education programmes promoting good health and hygiene. Longer term support, such as improving sanitation and hygiene, not only reduces the health risks of water-related diseases, but also increases the earning potential of households by reducing sickness and time spent gathering water.
Grameen Swapna supports communities to be able to make their own decisions about water and sanitation systems by empowering them to engage with those who control water supply and management. Women in particular, are traditionally excluded from decision making. Grameen Swapna works to ensure they are included in discussions on the provision of water and sanitation.
Grameen Swapna also works with farmers to provide irrigation systems for farms and water conservation projects. We believe that access to clean water is a right, not a luxury.
To support Grameen Swapna’s work on water & sanitation please donate now.