National WASH Coalition
The Guyanan coalition started work in 2008 with a WASH action programme. Members include representatives of the Ministry of Health, Guyana Water Inc (GWI) the Mayor and Town Council of Linden, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Focus
The focus of the young coalition is on documenting current WASH practices, promoting public awareness and fostering collaboration between sector stakeholders around water, sanitation and hygiene in Guyana.
Milestones and achievements
Work in 2008 was dominated by the International Year of Sanitation for which communication materials were distributed at several media, exhibition and school events. Further activities included:
- celebration of Global Handwashing Day
- several radio and television information inputs on WASH issues
- national and local WASH coalition meetings, with the focus on sanitation
- contributing to the draft of a strategic plan for the sanitation sector.
To foster partnerships and collaboration, coalition members give their technical support to the National Water Steering Committee and have been invited to give presentations to the Central Board of Health. The Water Safety Plan/National Programme of Action and the National Sanitation Plan (both dating from 2009) offer a chance to support the implementation and capacity building of sanitation stakeholders.
Planned activities for the future will include the training of community health facilitators to promote improved WASH practices; the production of a television documentary to raise awareness and promote WASH; conducting research to examine the linkages between water, sanitation and hygiene and health; and activities to build the WASH coalition at national and local levels.
