Programs: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Sri Lanka: Washing hands

Sri Lanka: Washing Hands

Water, Sanitation and Environmental Health

Recognizing the strong link between health and water, witnessed by numerous water-borne diseases, Malteser International is committed to contribute to better health and dignified living conditions by providing access to drinking water, sanitation, as well as health and hygiene promotion for people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty.

To date there are 2.6 billion people worldwide who lack basic sanitation and 1.1 billion who do not have access to safe drinking water. The WHO estimate that 1.8 million people die from diarrhea per year (WH0, 2004). This includes 4,000 children under five years, who die from this disease every day.

"Improving Hygiene In Sri Lanka"

"I am happy. There is no more bad smell coming out from our new toilet and no flooding and now we can harvest rain water to the tank which could be used for washing our hands after using the toilet”, says Mrs. Piyawathe. She is one of the beneficiaries of a project for the improvement of water, sanitation and environmental health in Katukurunda, Sri Lanka. "During the construction, all family members got involved in excavating the pit and the foundations of the cabin"; Mrs. Piyawathe proudly explains.

WASH BrochureFrom Safe Water and Sanitation to Good Health

Download our latest publication "From safe water and sanitation to good health -- Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects in Asia". Learn how simple methods can help make a difference toward clean drinking water more about  and discover how WASH programs help saves lives, especially the lives of children.

Download the PDF


The transmission of diseases related to the lack of drinking water, hygiene and sanitation can be prevented by simple, well known and well established concepts. For example, hand washing with soap is effective in reducing the incidence of such diseases by 50%. Safe storage of human waste in latrines is also without doubt one of the important building blocks in reducing the risk of contamination and transmission.