AusAID grants clean water to poor people in the Mekong Delta

On June 20, CARE International in Vietnam in collaboration with the People's Committee of Soc Trang Province summarized the Project : 'Choice and ownership of rural clean water and sanitation for residents poor in the Mekong Delta ' (referred to as WATSAN Project) after six years of implementation.

The WATSAN project implemented rural water supply and sanitation funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) with a total cost of A $ 4.67 million.

The project was implemented in cooperation with the two provinces of Ca Mau and Soc Trang from 2005 to 2012. The aim of the project is to improve the health and productive capacity of the rural poor through improved ability. access to rural clean water and sanitation. The project has supported poor and extremely difficult households in 24 hamlets in 4 districts and towns of each province.

After the implementation and assessment of the project's effectiveness, the percentage of households with clean water used in the villages implemented by the project has increased from 34% (2006) to 93% at the end. in 2011.

Out of a total of 16,600 households in the project area, 4,144 households have access to improved water resources through the support of the Project. The water supply models are often selected as connecting to centralized water supply systems, using plastic bottles and rainwater cements. The proportion of households with hygienic latrines has also increased from 9% (in 2006) to 61% at the end of 2011.

The project has created demand for environmental sanitation among poor and near poor households. More than 2,020 households have invested in the construction of sanitation facilities with the support of the project, in addition to more than 5,550 households, although they are not eligible for financial support of the project, but also have to build their own houses toilet.

The behavior change communication activities of the project have led to an improvement in awareness of environmental protection awareness, personal hygiene, garbage disposal and environmental protection habits. More than 1,320 households have invested in waste treatment projects with the support of the project.

According to Christina Northey, Deputy Director of CARE International in Vietnam, the hardware projects provided by the project are continuing to be maintained and promoted effectively. The rate of users who are satisfied with the water and environmental sanitation of the project is 74-100%; 96-97% of the works are currently used and well preserved. The capacity of rural water and sanitation service providers has been strengthened and can effectively meet the needs of the people after the project ends.

Mr. Le Thanh Tri, Vice Chairman of Soc Trang People's Committee highly appreciated the effectiveness and significance of the project implemented by CARE International in Soc Trang and Ca Mau.

According to Tri, the WATSAN project is in line with national and provincial policies and priorities. The project has contributed to helping Soc Trang and Ca Mau provinces with a part of poor people in extremely difficult hamlets get closer to the objectives of the national target program on rural clean water and environmental sanitation. as well as the new rural program being launched in the localities.