Contact Us

David BOISSON Head of Delegation Setthathirath Road Impasse Xiengnhune Vientiane Capital City Lao PDR Telephone: 856 21 241 042 Fax; : 856 21 241 042 Email : hod-lao.fr@croix-rouge.fr Website : www.croix-rouge.fr Other Contact Deng Seng Aloun Liaison Officer

Lao Red Cross Society Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion Project

Background:
Laos is among the least developed countries in the world, with a comparatively high degree of poor social and health indicators. More than 80% of the country’s 5.6 million inhabitants live in rural areas, and poverty is overwhelmingly a rural problem. Only 24% of the population has access to adequate sanitation facilities and 43% obtains drinking water from safe or improved drinking water sources according to WHO estimates. Lao Red Cross (LRC), with the support of the French Red Cross and the EU, is implementing a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion project in two Northern provinces.

Objectives and Strategies of the Project:
The aim of the project is to improve the health of vulnerable people in 68 villages of Vientiane and Sayaboury provinces by reducing water related diseases. The strategy is based on providing access to clear water and sanitation, and promoting safe behaviour through the LRC Volunteers’ network at village level.As such, the specific objectives are:

• Extend the LRC Volunteers network and enable it to disseminate hygiene messagesto its fellow villagers.
• Raise community awareness and encourage individuals to practice healthier behaviours.
• Build water supply system and sanitation facilities
• Develop capacity of the two LRC branches for action sustainability.

Part I. Assessment Process ( Vulnerability criteria for village selection)

• Difficult to access
• Far from health center
• Low education level of population
• No adequat water systems
• No getting support from other organization
• Not related to displacement of population
• Village size between 40-100 households PRA / Community Dialogue
• Discussion and “village contract” signing
• Technical study and quotation
• LRCV identification

Part II.  Watsan Activities
Construction:

• 82 Shallow Wells
• 64 Boreholes
• 32 Gravity Fed System
• 1530 Latrines

Villagers Contribution:

• Labour force
• Material available in the village (sand, gravel and wood)

Water Committee set up

• ToT for management
• Hand-over ceremony
• Water systems maintenance
• Villagers fund collection

Part III.  Health Activities
Skills developpement for LRC Volunteers:

• 152 LRCV trained
• Attended 1 CBFA training
• Attended 3 courses on Health Promotion
• First Aid Kit and tee-shirt provided

IEC Material provided:

• First Aid Manual
• Hygiene books and posters

LRCV actions carried out:

• 3 sessions conducted over a 6 month period
• First Aid care and referral to hospital

Individual monitoring done on:

• First Aid Kit use and refill
• LRCV practice and skills evaluation

Part IV. Results Obtained
Good Knowledge Attitude Practice study findings (extract):

• 84% take their drinking water from a protected water source
• Average time spent on water collection reduced from 10 to 7 minutes
• Diarrhea illness reduced from 42 to 32%

Granted “Model Village”recognition when:

• At least 80% of population drink boiled water
• At least 80% of villagers have access to water all year round
• At least 80% of population have good knowledge on hygiene
• At least 80% of villagers sleep undermosquito nets
• At least 80% of total families have latrines
• At least 80% of house yards are clean

Sustainability and Budget
The total budget of the Project is 799,157 Euro for 2003-2006. As the communities have contributed towards the cost of construction of the water and sanitation schemes, and also created a fund for maintainence, the water schemes are expected to be sustainable.

Conclusion
The comprehensive project approach has been able to make the changes reported by the KAP study. Deep rooted into a local tradition where the people comply with the strong guidance of the village chief, community participation and the role played by the LRC Volunteers made the difference.