Safe Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene – MedSIN Sudan

Name of the activity: Safe Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene

Country/NMO: MedSIN Sudan

Program: Communicable Diseases

Contact information: contact [email protected] to get in touch with the Activity Coordinator

Type of the activity: Continuous Activity

Category: Campaign

Focus area: Preventable Diseases

Sustainable Development Goals addressed: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 17 (Partnerships)

Enrollment valid until: September 30, 2025 (Report to extend)

General description:

WASH project aims to improve access to safe drinking water through proven sustainable interventions, which benefit rural communities in Sudan. To achieve this, we follow a multi-phase approach using water sampling and analysis to determine the safety of water for human consumption. Moreover, we conduct research with standardised questionnaires to reflect the population’s suffering. Our response is based on immediate solutions and sustainable solutions to create tangible impact on villages.

Problem statement:

In many areas in Sudan, hygiene & water quality levels are markedly low, leaving the population vulnerable to water-borne diseases. Scarcity of clean water sources forces people to travel long distances to attain water. Children give up school to fetch water, yet it isn’t enough to maintain adequate hygiene. Families are burdened financially by buying water at high costs. To tackle this problem, we act through comprehensive, long-term solutions for water sources, sanitary conditions and hygiene.

Target groups:

• General population
• Medical students

Beneficiaries:

• General population
• Medical students
• Children
• Women

Objectives:

1. To increase the awareness of WASH Team members about Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene by the end of the first month.
2. To collect and analyse water samples from at least 25 villages per each targeted state by the end of the first three months.
3. To increase the population’s awareness about proper hygiene & sanitation and its relation to waterborne diseases by the end of the medical mission.
4. To Increase the awareness of 70% of the targeted population about waterborne diseases by the end of the medical mission.
5. To increase the awareness of 70% of the targeted population about proper and simple water purification techniques by the end of the medical mission.
6. To collect data on population awareness about safe water supply measures, proper sanitation and hygiene in targeted Sudan states by the end of the first three months.
7. To collaborate with targeted stakeholders to perform long term interventions (wells, filters) in targeted states by the end of the term.

Indicators of Success:

1. At least 12 WASH Team members will know the importance of having safe water supply and its relation to healthy life.
2. At least 12 WASH Team members will be capacitated in performing health education, approaching external partners and conducting research.
3. Water samples from at least 25 villages will be collected and analysed through microbiological and physicochemical analysis.
4. At least 60% of the targeted population in the medical mission will know the symptoms, complications and prevention of prevalent waterborne diseases in their area.
5. At least 50% of the targeted population in the medical mission will know how to make simple water purification techniques.
6. At least 60% of the targeted population in the medical mission will know the importance of proper sanitation & hygiene and its relation to preventing waterborne diseases.
7. At least 400 Questionnaires about WASH information will be filled per each medical mission.
8. Long term interventions will be performed in at least 3 villages per each state.

Methodology:

Each year, the project targets a state in Sudan, selected based on its need for WASH interventions and accessibility. It is executed by the project team, made up of a coordinator, vice-coordinator, three heads, a publication team and general members. The project phases are as follows: 

Phase 1:Team capacity building /Collection of water samples from villages to be tested using H2S kits and lab analysis, alongside the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Laboratory/Fundraising

Phase 2: Data collection for a study on sanitation and hygiene in the area. 

Health education to raise awareness on hygiene practices & waterborne diseases. 

Providing simple water purification tools (e.g. water filters).

Working with local government bodies and NGOs.

Phase 3: Advocating for long-term solutions based on the research results gathered, targeting NGOs and GOs that work in the field. Interventions include water stations of groundwater wells, improvement of sanitation infrastructure, etc.

Plans for evaluation:

• Pre-assessment and post-assessment forms are used to measure the impact of capacity building that targets members of the WASH team or any members of the local committee who attend.
• Research based questionnaires are used to determine the WASH status before and after the implementation of short term and long term interventions.
• H2S kits, microbial analysis and physicochemical analysis are used before and after the implementation of short term and long term interventions to compare the quality of water resources in the targeted villages and ensure the outcome of these interventions.
• Reporting on the outcomes and evaluation results of the project on an annual basis to compare the impact of each term and implement measures to ensure efficacy.
• Following up with stakeholders to get feedback on collaborative work and explore areas for improvement and sustainability.

External collaborations:

• Federal Ministry of Health: provided logistical support ( H2S analysis kits, posters)
• National Public Health Laboratory: provided physicochemical and microbiological analysis reports for water samples.
• Nile Petroleum Company: provided financial support for the first phase of the project.
• Friends of Peace and Development Organization (NGO): assisted in transportation of water samples for their analysis and provision of water filters.