Our Current Priority
In 2013 we conducted a full assessment of the development needs in the wider Eastern Region of Cameroon. Our assessment identified that a lack of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) infrastructure was the biggest barrier to sustainable development.
More than 50% of rural Cameroon lack access to clean drinking water.
The Current Water, Sanitation and Hygeine Situation
A lack of access to clean drinking water, safely managed sanitation and basic hygiene is a major barrier to other aspects of development. Fewer than half of Cameroon’s rural population have basic access to potable water and less than a quarter of households have access to safe sanitation and hygiene facilities.
44% of the rural population collect drinking water from a safe water source, provided collection time is not more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip including queuing.
Only 23% of the rural population have access to basic use of hygienic toilet facilities which are not shared with other households.
Only 22% of the rural population have access to a handwashing facility with soap and water at home.
Dangerous
Collecting water from far-away natural sources, often climbing down narrow and steep slopes is a dangerous, arduous and time-consuming task which typically falls to women and children.
Harmful
Water collected from these sources can present a significant health hazard as it often contains harmful bacteria, viruses or chemicals.
Infectious
Poor sanitation and hygiene are a common risk factor for the spread of infectious diseases, such as diarrhoeal, parasitic and respiratory diseases, which exacerbate malnutrition and remain a leading global cause of child deaths.