Water and Sanitation Support in Zimbabwe - Action Against Hunger 2009

The people of Zimbabwe are coping with the impacts of an unprecedented cholera outbreak the world's highest inflation rate and one of the world's lowest life expectancies. Over 5 million people are in need of food assistance. Another year of erratic weather is anticipated in 2009 which combined with the failure to procure and adequately distribute seed stock is expected to lead to another failed harvest. Unemployment is estimated at 80 percent in Zimbabwe which also has one of the world's highest rates of HIV/AIDS. CIDA's contribution is supporting Action Against Hunger to help improve access to sustainable potable water and sanitation services for rural populations and rural health centres in Matabeleland South Zimbabwe. Project activities include constructing and rehabilitating water points; establishing and/or reviving local committees responsible for maintaining the water points; constructing and/or rehabilitating latrines as needed; distributing waste containers cleaning kits and hygiene kits; as well as training pump minders environmental health technicians and village health worker committees.