Did you know that access to safe water sources and good sanitation could save the lives of up to 1.5 million children a year? That's according to the United Nations, who is monitoring progress toward the Millennium Development goals. And while the world has made significant progress toward achieving the goal of halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, there's still lots of work to be done.
This month, we're going to bring you stories from the field that show the advances we're making in providing clean water and improved toilets to our project participants around the world. I visited a few projects in Bangladesh where we are working with partners to provide improved latrines to families and saw firsthand the difference it has made in the health and well being of many families.
In addition to preventing the spread of diseases, installing latrines can help keep women safe. Providing a water source nearer to homes also reduces the time spent collecting it for household use. Women and girls are tpyically the ones tasked with this chore, as well, and can free up numerous hours in the day better spent in school or on other projects.
So check back with us all month as we explore the issues of clean water and sanitation. Be on the lookout for a special post on World Toilet Day, November 19.
Give the gift of clean water or a healthy home today.
