Nearly 1 billion people lack access to clean water, which causes
hardship, disease and death. The impact on children is
particularly tragic. Each year 1.4 million die as a result of
diarrhea, according to the World Health Organization. Most cases
of diarrhea are attributable to polluted water and poor
sanitation. In 2009, ChildFund Zambia pilot tested the “Water,
Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Improvement Training Package for
the Prevention of Diarrheal Disease” developed by USAID. The
goal was to get more field staff up to speed on - Making water
safe to drink: discussing different methods of turning dirty
water into safe, drinkable water for different communities. -
Hand washing: explaining how hands carry germs and encouraging
correct hand-washing procedures. (Today, by the way, is Global
Handwashing Day.) - Handling human waste: explaining how
improper disposal leads to contamination and offering
suggestions for improving specific community conditions. -
Facilitating interpersonal communication: identifyin