To intensify improvement of sanitation and hygiene through provision of safe and clean toilets among Kenyan communities, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) has announced extension of its support to Kenya.
Unicef has been making various hygienic interventions in the country, including provision of access to basic sanitation in seven counties and support of national and county governments policy instruments.
The fund has also facilitated at least 9,500 school-going children in 56 schools in six counties to have access to safe toilets in a learning environment by The School Toilet Enhancement Programme.
This, among other services, will be extended until 2027 after Unicef announced its partnership with LIXIL until 2027.
Besides Kenya, increase in the availability and affordability of safe sanitation has also benefited Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Tanzania reaching 12.7 million people.
Unicef Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships Carla Haddad Mardini said lack of access to safe sanitation and hygiene has a devastating effect on children and their families around the world. Reports indicated every day, 1,000 children under the age of five die from diseases linked to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene.
“Thanks to our partnership with LIXIL, many communities are not only more aware of the benefits of improved sanitation, they are also more likely to be able to invest in improved toilets and sanitation services,” said Mardini. “Now, we must scale up our efforts to help reach the 3.5 billion people in the world who still do not have access to safely managed sanitation³. Providing access to proper sanitation facilities not only ensures health and wellbeing, but also grants people the opportunity to live with dignity.”
Poor communities
Most sanitation improvements in lower-income countries are said to be the result of people using their own money to buy a toilet of their choice from a supplier.
However, poorer communities face barriers to making such investments, including a lack of affordable products, an absence of skilled labourers to install toilets, and family cash flow constraints.
The extended partnership between Unicef and LIXIL is expected to tackle the barriers through a variety of activities in each of the supported countries including supporting government health workers to advise communities on safe sanitation practices, training masons to install toilets, facilitating microfinance loans, and increasing the supply of affordable hygiene and sanitation products, including through SATO, LIXIL’s social business.
Jin Montesano, the chair of LIXIL’s Impact Strategy Committee revealed that their partnership with Unicef is a cornerstone of their commitment to improving global health through innovative sanitary and hygiene solutions.
“By renewing the partnership, we reaffirm our dedication to creating market-based strategies that provide safe and accessible sanitation and hygiene where they are needed most,” stated Montesano.
Montesano noted that LIXIL makes pioneering water and housing products that solve everyday, real-life challenges, making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere.
