Improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Electrification in Rural Clinics of Anosy Madagascar

Background

Health expenditure in Madagascar continues to be amongst the lowest globally, representing just 1% of national spending in 2020. Basic Community Health Centres, referred to in Madagascar as Centre de Santé de Bases (CSBs) in rural areas bear the brunt of the burden as spending is focused on urban areas, leaving remote communities deprioritised and beyond reach.

Country-wide statistics indicate that approximately half of all health facilities lack access to an improved water source and hygienic latrines. Unsanitary WASH conditions in CSBs perpetuate the transmission of WASH-related disease, which can be especially detrimental in medical environments where healthcare workers are in close contact with sick and injured patients. Children are disproportionately impacted by these outcomes; 6% of the children die before age five, with WASH-related diseases accounting for 25% of these deaths.

There is an immediate need for well-lit health facilities to ensure more efficient nighttime service delivery. This need is especially pronounced for childbirth services: 35% of girls aged 15-19 in Madagascar have begun childbearing, and 49% of these are amongst the poorest quintile, and are primarily served by the rural CSBs. In the selected rural CSBs, kerosene lamps and torches are used by staff during medical emergencies that occur after dark. Well-lit health environments are critical to safely manage childbirth as well as emergency medical interventions at night.

Proposal

In response, SEED is seeking £65,882 to improve the health status of 16,000+ people, specifically women and children as the primary care seekers, by improving the WASH conditions of and solar-electrifying three CSBs located in Ankilivalo, Ambinanibe and Manambaro.

More specifically SEED will:

·       Install two 10,000 l rainwater harvesting system with hand washing stations

·       Install one ground water well with hand washing stations

·       Repair of 15 existing latrines, construct seven gender segregated latrines and three menstrual management facilities

·       Install three solar systems in the 3 CSBs to illuminate 17 rooms

£10 will purchase a bag of cement

£15 will purchase one 3m metal sheet for roofing

£30 will purchase one contactless handwashing station

£50 will purchase 25 kg of nails

£85 will purchase 5 tins of paint

SEED has already secured £49,000 for this project and is now looking for £16,882. Thank you in advance for choosing to support this project.