Oddar Meanchey and Bantey Meanchey / Kambodscha

Improved health, water and sanitation conditions through self-help initiatives

: Traditional jars for rainwater harvesting

In Cambodia, poverty is an overwhelmingly rural problem – 90 per cent of the poor live in rural areas. In those areas, a major problem is the lack of sanitation and clean water. This leads to poor health – and poor health is one of the major contributing factors to poverty.

To improve the health status and the living conditions of the population in the Oddar Meanchey and Bantey Meanchey provinces, Malteser International, together with its national partner organisation CHHRA (Cambodian Health and Human Rights Alliance), started a comprehensive project in the field of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in six of the provinces’ communes in February 2011.

Working together with the population, Malteser International and CHHRA are rehabilitating rainwater ponds and wells, as well as building new rainwater collection tanks for homes and schools. In this way, the population will have enough safe drinking water during the dry season. One of the project’s key elements is the active engagement of the communities and commune councils. Through the project staff, the communities receive assistance and technical advice to build their own latrines in households and in schools. Depending on their financial capacities, Malteser International may also provide a part of the construction material needed.

In addition, Malteser International is running health and hygiene promotion campaigns in cooperation with the commune councils, as well as a dengue prevention campaign. The main focus is the prevention of diseases through simple and cost-efficient measures.

Situation

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in Asia. One in every three Cambodians lives below the poverty line. This dire reality is the reason why eradicating extreme poverty and hunger has become the number one development priority in Cambodia. But tackling such a complex problem is particularly difficult in a country with such a long history of genocide, armed conflicts, and dictatorships. To fight poverty, Cambodia needs a strong civil society that is able to participate in the decision-making process. That’s why Malteser International wants to empower people to take their destiny into their own hands and be a part of the solution – fighting poverty together, hand in hand.

Safe drinking water and good sanitation are essential for the prevention of waterborne and water-related diseases. In Northern Cambodia, only 61 per cent of the population has access to safe water and only 19 percent to sanitation facilities. Diarrhoea is still one of the major causes of childhood mortality and morbidity, and communicable diseases like dengue are directly related to unhygienic conditions and unsafe water storage systems.

Goals

Poverty reduction and sustainable improvement of the health status through

Improved sanitation and hygiene conditions as well as year-round supply of sufficient and safe drinking water
Increased awareness of hygiene and health related topics

Measures

Support in creating Commune Development Plans
Rehabilitation of wells and ponds in 20 villages
Construction of rainwater harvesting tanks at the household level and at 10 schools
Promotion of Household Water Treatment and Storage (HWTS)
Support in constructing fly-proof household latrines in 40 villages and 11 schools
Cleaning campaigns in the villages
Health and hygiene promotion campaigns with special focus on dengue prevention measures
Development of biological dengue control measures

Project data & Contact: