Have you ever heard of a Broad Street cholera outbreak? The epidemic that occurred in 1854 in London's Soho district killed 616 people and is best known for the physician John Snow's study. He identified the source of the epidemic — contaminated water from a public water pump, the handle of which was urgently removed to disable the well pump and block access to people. Snow's research served as an impetus for the development of epidemiology, demonstrated the link between access to clean drinking water and human health.

Similarly, in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, one of the priorities is to ensure safe drinking water and sanitation for all. Polluted water and poor sanitation conditions lead to the spread of cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, polio, and other diseases. Employees and students of educational institutions are exposed to such risks.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

The needs assessment held by the UNDP among the residents of the pilot communities in Bozatau district, revealed the lack of water supply in local schools No. 2 and No. 8, where 510 people study and work.

Thus with the financial support of the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan, the UNDP, UNFPA and FAO Joint Programme on "Unleashing young people’s and vulnerable citizens’ creativity and innovation by strengthening their adaptive capacity to address the economic and food insecurities in the exposed communities of the Aral Sea region", has constructed the water supply networks improving the sanitary and hygienic conditions of pilot schools in the district. Sewerage has been carried out in both buildings, washbasins, taps, and water heaters operating from solar energy have been installed and now both cold and hot water is supplied here, which is important in the harsh winters of the region.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

In addition, the target population was trained on water supply, sanitation and hygiene to improve their health status, raise awareness of community residents about health-related issues and promote a healthy lifestyle.

For example, hand washing is considered one of the cheapest and most effective way to stay protected from various infections. In particular, at the current stage, hand washing is also relevant for COVID-19. However, not everyone does it right.

But studies conducted in schools show that thorough hand washing can reduce the risk of intestinal infection (including hepatitis A, diarrhea, etc.) by 50-60% and respiratory infection (including COVID—19, influenza and other acute respiratory infections) by 15-25%. Children who are accustomed to washing their hands are much less likely to get sick and miss school less than their less clean peers.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

From March 29 to April 6, 2022, 500 residents of the Bozatau, Karauzyak and Kungrad districts of Karakalpakstan were trained on WASH through 7 workshops, both for school children and adults. In working with adults, organizational support was provided by another UNDP and UNFPA Joint Programme on "Building the resilience of local communities against health, environmental and economic insecurities caused by environmental destruction in the Aral Sea region" funded by the Government of Japan.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan 

It is expected that the new knowledge and opportunities provided to the communities of the pilot districts will help to avoid the spread of various infections and prevent outbreaks of new epidemics associated with unfavorable sanitation and hygiene conditions in rural areas.