While handwashing has been acknowledged as a way to prevent the spread of infection, experts agree that we still aren’t making enough progress on increasing uptake of this behavior. A systematic review revealed that in 2015, only 26 percent of people globally washed their hands with soap after contact with feces.
October 15, 2019, is Global Handwashing Day (GH Day), an annual advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap. This year’s theme is “Clean Hands for All,” which gives much needed attention to the marginalized groups that lack access to handwashing facilities or face discrimination in the provision of handwashing and other water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.
USAID’s water and sanitation assistance has resulted in millions of people gaining access to improved drinking water and sanitation services. Reliable access to safe water and sanitation saves lives, reduces extreme poverty, and makes communities more resilient. Investments in water and sanitation are critical for progress in nearly all aspects of global development.
This fact sheet provides data to describe the water crisis and to illustrate the success of USAID's efforts in helping communities around the world to access improved water and sanitation services.
Hygiene refers to behaviors that can improve cleanliness and lead to good health. USAID works alongside partner countries to reach poor and underserved populations with hygiene behavior change campaigns that generate lasting results, aiming to improve hygiene facilities in educational and health care institutions and increase handwashing with soap at critical times, among other objectives.
The 5-year Feed the Future (FtF), Nigeria Livelihoods Project (2013–2018), implemented by Catholic Relief Service, supported impoverished households in Nigeria to boost their agriculture production and incomes, and improve nutrition. The project involved four main components of cross-sectoral community-based interventions. This cost-effective analysis (CEA) focuses on the WASH and nutrition component, designed to promote optimal nutrition, provide water and sanitation access, and improve hygiene practices through interventions in WASH and nutrition areas.
Central to the USAID/Afghanistan Plan for Transition Strategy is a focus on improving opportunities for private sector-led economic growth to replace donor assistance and increase Government of Afghanistan (GoA) revenue. The Economic Growth Consolidated Project Appraisal Document addresses this broad strategic issue and focuses on strengthening elements of the Afghan economy leading to economic growth, private sector development and increased employment opportunities.
Food for the Hungry Ethiopia (FHE) has been implementing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Targeted Response for Agriculture, Income and Nutrition (TRAIN) project in support of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) in six chronically food insecure and drought prone Woredas of Amhara Region. The targeted Woredas include Lay Gayint, Tach Gayint, and Simada in South Gondar Zone as well as Ziquala, Sahila, and Abergelie in Wag-Himra Zone.
Uganda remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with almost a quarter of the population living on less than USD$1.25 a day. Economic and human development in Uganda is inhibited by inadequate sanitary conditions at households, schools, and health centers, which cost the country the equivalent of USD$177 million per year in lost productivity and medical costs, according to The Water and Sanitation Program.
Communication for Healthy Communities (CHC) is a 5-year, USAID funded project whose goal is to support Government of Uganda and partners to design and implement quality health communication interventions that contribute to reduction in HIV Infections, total fertility, maternal & child mortality, malnutrition, malaria & tuberculosis (TB). To achieve this, the project uses innovative health communication (HC) approaches, capacity strengthening, increased collaboration among partners, and rigorous research and knowledge management for health communication.
