USAID Announces $70 Million Hygiene and Sanitation Initiative

NEW YORK, NY - Today, Dr. Anne Peterson, USAID Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Global Health, announced an ambitious, new hygiene and sanitation improvement initiative during a meeting of the 12th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in New York, running April 14-30, 2004.

USAID plans to invest $70 million over a nine-year period on targeted health programs aimed at the prevention of diarrheal diseases, a leading killer of vulnerable populations, including approximately 2 million children under five every year.

"Hygiene and sanitation have long been neglected, yet critical elements of public health," Dr. Peterson said. "In the face of the growing AIDS pandemic, we have more reasons to be really serious about clean water, improved hygiene and sanitation. Through our efforts and those of our partners, USAID intends to reduce the suffering and death associated with diarrheal disease worldwide."

Building on its previous health program experience in water supply, sanitation and hygiene, USAID's new initiative will focus on bolstering key hygiene practices that are proven effective in diarrhea prevention -- safe storage, handling, and disinfection of household drinking water; effective handwashing; and improved sanitation.

Safer household drinking water is one expected outcome of the new initiative. Working with government, the private sector and non-profit partners, USAID will explore and invest in various technologies and promotional approaches to protect and disinfect household drinking water, using different techniques tailored to specific country, community, and household needs.

About 1 billion people around the world lack access to improved drinking water. For those that do have access to safe water, unsanitary handling and storage practices can cause household water to be unsafe for drinking and food preparation. Household water disinfection and safe storage has been shown to reduce diarrhea incidence by 30 to 40 percent.

Promotion of handwashing with soap is another important component of USAID's agenda. International initiatives to promote handwashing with soap will be launched in several countries, working through existing national water and sanitation programs, as well as through partnerships. A recent review of available evidence suggests that handwashing could reduce diarrhea incidence by 40 percent if done properly and at correct times.

USAID's efforts will focus on these key interventions both singly and in combination, a more effective approach to preventing diarrheal disease.