Working to Avert a Water and Latrine Crisis in Kenya

Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) has renewed its commitment to increasing local access to latrines and safe water in Mandera, Kenya as the world community marks the International Year of Sanitation and World Water Day this March 22nd. Water and sanitation conditions are a major concern in Mandera, Kenya’s North Eastern Province, where latrine coverage is less than 60% and less than 20% of all households have access to drinking water. Action Against Hunger’s community-based programs build local capacity so these life-threatening conditions can be effectively addressed in a sustainable fashion.

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2008 the International Year of Sanitation to highlight the fact that roughly 2.6 billion people have no access to basic sanitation around the world today. The goal of naming 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation is to raise awareness about this global crisis and catalyze action and progress in reaching the UN’s 7th Millennium Development Goal (MDG)—reduce by half the number of people without sustainable access to safe water or basic sanitation by 2015.

To mark World Water Day in Kenya this March 22, ACF-Kenya has planned a series of celebrations and activities aimed at raising local awareness while reinforcing commitments to the International Year of Sanitation. These celebrations kick off at the District Commissioner’s office with a parade of Youth Football Teams, Women’s Sanitation Groups, School Sanitation Health Club Members, club Patrons and Head Teachers, various government authorities, and other NGO partners (local and international).

The District Commissioner, along with ACF-Kenya staff, will then lead the procession to Bulla Mpya School stadium where ACF-Kenya will make presentations on the Bio-Sand filter technology, a cost-effective solution for household water treatment. Students and children will present educational plays and recite water-and-sanitation-related poetry to the audience while different actors make speeches on issues relevant to World Water Day. The day will culminate with a football (soccer) match and the winning club will take home ACF-Kenya’s coveted International Year of Sanitation Trophy.

Action Against Hunger has been operating in Kenya, North Eastern Province (Mandera and Garissa) since 2004 to reduce the vulnerability of the population to acute malnutrition. More recently, ACF-Kenya has engaged in emergency responses in Nairobi and the Rift Valley (Molo and Nakuru).

ACF Press Contact in Kenya:

Daisy R.Nyaga
Health Education and Hygeine Promotion Manager
Action Against Hunger - Kenya
+254-723-299820 / +254-712-504713
hedumngr@acfkenya.org