WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE

Safe water, toilets, and good hygiene are the basic rights of every human being.

THEMATIC GOAL

To improve the life and health conditions of vulnerable communities through better and sustainable access to drinking water, sanitation, and improved hygiene practices.

INTRODUCTION

According to UNICEF an estimated 70 percent of households still drink bacterial-contaminated water in Pakistan, 53,000 children under five die annually from diarrhea due to poor water and sanitation, while 25 million people still practice open defecation. Lack of access to proper water and sanitation facilities impacts negatively the health and well-being of communities, especially the children. Water and Sanitation-related diseases especially diarrhea also cause stunting that currently affects almost 44 percent of children in Pakistan.The WASH sector has been the niche of the Pak Mission Society (PMS) since the year 2010. The organization has implemented significant humanitarian and development projects on WASH in the unreached areas of Pakistan such as Rajanpur, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Umerkot, Tando Allahyar, Charsadda, Kohistan, and Shangla with the support of its partners and donors ensuring the provision of basic needs to the unreached communities including clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. These needs are not just crucial for physical survival but also play a vital role in emotional and psychological existence. Pak Mission Society placed water sources and schemes around villages to ensure easy access to clean drinking water. Training and awareness sessions are organized with experts to raise the level of knowledge and understanding of sanitation, and personal and household-level hygiene. In the implementation of WASH Projects PMS strives to complement the overall relief and development efforts undertaken by the government, UN, and civil society. PMS works in close coordination and collaboration with the local communities, local administration, district government, UN agencies, CSOs/NGOs, and all related line departments. PMS factors in DRR, Climate Resilience, and Localization in all WASH activities. PMS also uses recommended technical standards of the related UN and other agencies depending upon the activity.

All these projects have been supporting the sustainable development goals SDG3, SDG6, SDG9, and SDG11.