IMPACT MARCH 2015
Pramila, 34, lives in rural India with her husband and four children.
HE ALTH
FIGHTING FOR DIGNITY THROUGH IMPROVED SANITATION
T
he health and safety of all those sponsored through
population has access to an improved sanitation facility.
Unbound is a priority. But one of the most basic aspects
Open defecation is common, especially in rural areas, where
of life is still a cause of concern for many of the families who are part of the program. Families without access to proper
people relieve themselves in nearby fields. The practice can be especially unsafe for women. In the
toilets must deal with water contamination, greater chances of disease, and in some cases, assault. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are “2.5 billion people without access to an improved sanitation facility.” This number includes those who use
last year, several cases of Indian
According to a 2012 WHO report, less than half of India’s population has access to an improved sanitation facility.
shared facilities, those using facili-
women while
being relieving
sexually
assaulted
themselves
have
made international headlines, and India’s government is putting a focus on improving sanitation. Firingi and Pramila are raising their four children in a rural area in northeast India.
ties below minimum hygiene standards, and those who prac-
“When the girls and my wife went into the field, it was
tice open defecation. Of the 1 billion people around the world
dangerous,” Firingi shared. To keep his family safe, Firingi
who practice open defecation, almost 60 percent live in India.
decided they would all go to the field together, despite the (continued)
According to a 2012 WHO report, less than half of India’s
SUPPORTING HEALTHY LIVES
A BLOG-READ-BLOG WORLD
Living in poverty often means living in unhealthy conditions with limited access to clean water, doctors or medication. By targeting your donation for Health, you support Unbound’s efforts to address illnesses and their underlying causes among the people we serve. Visit unbound.org/donate to learn more.
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blog.unbound.org. Read inspiring stories and see beautiful photos from sponsored children and elders, families, students, staffers and more.
In Uganda, the percentage of families in the Unbound program with access to latrines is
33
%
HIGHER
THAN THAT OF ALL UGANDANS.
Source: Unbound data collected by parents of sponsored friends in Uganda
(continued from front) embarrassment the lack of privacy
to build their latrine,” he said. “Their
children in a small house in Uganda.
sweat equity in the construction of a
Their 11-year-old daughter, Rosette, is
caused everyone.
dignified and sanitary toilet stretches
sponsored by Amalia from New Mexico.
the dollars that have been donated and
The family latrine, made of mud and
allows us to reach more families.”
thatched grass, was run-down and unus-
When their daughter Menika was sponsored by Junghee from New Jersey, Pramila joined a mothers group. She
Sanitation is also a focus for the Ugan-
able. When possible the family used a
discussed her family’s situation with
dan government, specifically to combat
toilet in a neighboring church, but other-
the other mothers, and they suggested
diseases, such as diarrhea, linked to
wise had to use the bushes.
she take a loan from the group to build a
improperly disposed waste. The WHO
The sanitation training they received
bathroom. Pramila and Firingi were able
lists diarrhea as a leading cause of death
through Unbound helped Maliza and
to build the bathroom for about $160,
in children younger than 5 years old.
Moses better understand the health
increasing the safety of their family.
Waste disposal becomes an even big-
risks created by their situation. With
“We feel very secure for our girls,”
ger concern during Uganda’s rainy sea-
careful saving, the family purchased
Pramila said. “If they have to go in the
son, according to Alice Noel, a local pro-
bricks and sand to build a new latrine,
night [to use the toilet], it is right here.”
gram coordinator for Unbound.
and Unbound provided iron sheets for
Dan Pearson, director of interna-
“The water flowing from the make-
tional programs for Unbound, said a
shift toilets runs into the wells making
new latrine significantly impacts the
it [the drinking water] contaminated,”
Echoing Pramila’s sentiment, Mal-
quality of life for families.
she said. “Many children suffer from
iza said, “I am very happy. Now we
“Usually the program provides mate-
diarrhea and other parasitic infections.”
have a latrine we can use just outside
rials, and the families provide the labor
Maliza and Moses live with their four
800.875.6564
help from another father.
our house.”
Moses (left) gets help putting the iron sheet roof on their family’s new latrine.
Pramila’s family built this bathroom through their savings and materials they received through Unbound. 1 ELMWOOD AVENUE, KANSAS CITY, KS 66103
roofing. Moses built the latrine with
MAIL@UNBOUND.ORG
UNBOUND.ORG
©UNBOUND 2015