Access to clean water is a basic human right, yet it remains a privilege for the few. In 2022, 2.2 billion people still lacked access to safely managed drinking water services, while 3.5 billion people were deprived of access to safely managed sanitation.
Universal access to clean water is closely related to hygiene and sanitation services, known as WASH. Inadequate access to WASH services is responsible for as much as 10% of the global burden of disease, contributing to 1.6 million preventable deaths each year, including 60% of all deaths due to diarrheal diseases. In 2022, 3.5 billion people still lacked safely managed sanitation.
Goal 6 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims precisely at ensuring universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation. The accomplishment of this goal is a necessary condition for achieving the other SDGs related to poverty, health, education, gender equality and environment. The most vulnerable regions in terms of water availability and access are often located in areas under severe environmental stress and difficult economic and political conditions, where consequently also access to safely managed WASH services in both households and key community facilities, such as health facilities and schools, is very limited.
Over the years CUAMM has implemented numerous WASH projects across several African countries, particularly in Mozambique, Angola and Uganda among others with the key objective of improving access to clean water, sanitation and promoting adoption of desired hygiene and sanitation practices to curb morbidity and mortality due to preventable environmental factors. Our approach is comprehensive and includes a multi-pronged approach that includes infrastructure
development, community-based behavioral change and health prevention and promotion interventions, hygiene and sanitation in healthcare facilities and outbreak prevention and response.
CUAMM places a strong emphasis on improving water, sanitation and hygiene practices (WASH) at community, household, and individual levels. We achieve this by integrating WASH messaging and education within our community-based health promotion and mobilization campaigns through the Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) strategy.
In Cunene province, Angola, thanks to the commitment of the agents from the GAS groups – Grupo de Água e Saneamento (water management groups in English), communities are being sensitized and informed about the correct use of wells to ensure good hygiene and sanitation practices and prevent waste. In addition, GAS is also responsible for collecting a “symbolic” monthly payment from the households using the water point, to manage maintenance but also to increase ownership.
The intervention has been implemented following a Community Management Model, actively involving all members throughout the process and making agents of change themselves. The activity is part of the project “Reducing nutritional vulnerability in the municipalities of Cahama and Ombadja through community surveillance and increasing access to safe water sources”, supported by Camões I.P. under the FRESAN Programme in partnership with the Municipal Administrations and the Municipal Directorates of Energy and Water and the Health.
In Mozambique, the “Familia Modelo” program has provided a platform for CUAMM to engage with community members, including parents and caregivers on WASH-related topics. By empowering families to become role models and champions of good WASH practices, CUAMM has created a multiplier effect, where the impact of school-based interventions is amplified through the active participation and support of the broader community.
Similarly, the “Smart Home” program in Uganda focuses on educating families on the importance of proper handwashing, safe water storage, and maintaining a cleaner living environment. By linking community-based WASH interventions with this household-level program, CUAMM ensures that knowledge and skills are applied at home, creating a more comprehensive and sustainable approach.
