Creating Healthier, Safer and More Dignified Communities

Access to safe water, dignified sanitation and good hygiene is fundamental to healthy families, thriving children and resilient communities. Yet many communities in Zambia, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, continue to face gaps in WASH infrastructure and services.

These challenges can contribute to preventable diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera, poor health and nutrition outcomes, and disruption to children's education. Women, girls, children and people with disabilities can face additional barriers to accessing safe and appropriate WASH services.

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WASH as an Essential Enabler

For PriCHO, WASH is an essential enabler of our broader community development work. Improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene helps create the conditions needed for better health, improved learning and stronger community wellbeing.

Our approach is community-driven and inclusive, bringing together:

• Safe and clean water supply

• Sanitation improvement

• Hygiene promotion

• Menstrual health management

• Community awareness and participation

• Sustainable water infrastructure

Each of these areas reinforces the others to create healthier and more supportive environments for children, families and communities.

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Improving Access to Safe Water

PriCHO supports improved access to safe and reliable water in underserved communities, with a particular focus on schools and other community settings.

Our interventions include the drilling, rehabilitation and mechanization of boreholes where appropriate. Where feasible, water systems may be supported through solutions such as solar-powered pumps and water storage tanks to improve the availability of clean, running water.

These investments can support access to water for:

• Drinking

• Handwashing

• Sanitation

• School and community use

Improved access to water can also help reduce the time and burden associated with collecting water, particularly for women and girls.

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Hygiene and Sanitation

Access to water must be accompanied by good sanitation and hygiene practices.

PriCHO promotes practical hygiene education and awareness to support individuals, schools and communities to adopt healthier practices and reduce exposure to preventable diseases.

Our work promotes understanding of the importance of:

• Handwashing and personal hygiene

• Safe water handling and use

• Appropriate sanitation practices

• Disease prevention

• Healthy and hygienic school environments

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Menstrual Health and Dignity

PriCHO recognizes that inadequate WASH facilities can create significant challenges for girls and women, particularly in schools.

Our WASH interventions therefore include menstrual health education and support for more appropriate and dignified environments where girls can manage menstruation safely and confidently.

By addressing water, sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health together, PriCHO works to help create environments where girls can participate more fully in education and community life.

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Inclusive and Community-Driven WASH

PriCHO promotes WASH solutions that respond to the needs of the communities we serve.

We pay particular attention to the experiences of women, girls, children and people with disabilities, while working with communities to strengthen ownership, appropriate use and sustainability of WASH facilities.

Community participation is central to ensuring that WASH investments respond to local needs and continue to provide benefits over time.

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Looking Towards 2030

By 2030, PriCHO aims to expand its WASH investments in schools, health facilities and marginalized communities, with particular attention to women, girls and children.

Through stronger WASH systems and community engagement, we aim to contribute to:

• Better health and disease prevention

• Improved learning environments

• Greater dignity and inclusion

• Reduced barriers to safe water and sanitation

• Stronger community wellbeing

WASH will continue to complement PriCHO's core focus areas of Health & Nutrition and Sustainable Livelihoods, helping create the conditions in which children, families and communities can thrive.

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Help Us Build Healthier Communities

Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene can transform everyday life.

Your support can help PriCHO expand community-driven WASH solutions and create healthier, safer and more dignified environments for children, families and communities.

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