Ecuador

Ecuador

Country statistics Population: 13.3 mio. People without access to improved water supply: 700,000 Child mortality: 2.2% Source: United Nations Statistics Division Project Start of SODIS promotion: 2004 Diffusion through NGOs, Ministries, local promoters, health staff, teachers 150 000 users

Since 2004 we have been promoting the SODIS-method in Ecuador, together with the SODIS Foundation and local implementing organisations. The method was especially well received in areas along the coast, where due to hot climatic conditions the need for water consumption is especially high. According to official statistics, more than 400,000 people in this region rely on unimproved sources of drinking water, i.e., they drink water from rivers, springs or unprotected boreholes. In fact, this number is much higher, because only in larger settlements water is treated prior to its distribution through networks. In all other locations, drinking water straight from the tap implies a considerable risk of contracting waterborne diseases.

After successfully completing several small pilot projects with NGOs (e.g., PLAN International) and the Ministries of Health and of Infrastructure, we decided to implement a joint large project. In each of the five provinces along the coast, 5,000 families will be trained on household water treatment and improved hygiene. In November 2008, the Minister of Health and the Minister of Infrastructure signed the project documents, and since then, dozens of local promoters started to inform target families on these issues. It is the goal of this intervention that in the near future, diarrhoea is an exception, not the rule as it is now.

Local partner organisation

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