Health Interventions in Drinking Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Rapid growth in Uganda’s urban areas has resulted in a corresponding growth of crowded, impoverished neighborhoods. These unplanned communities lack adequate safe drinking water and sanitation services, leading to poor personal and general hygiene. A shortage of municipal resources to meet the need for services and infrastructure means that dangerous diseases can spread quickly.

This partnership targets the communities of Kalerwe and Ngandu, where the State University of New York-Albany and Tuskegee University are collaborating with Makerere University improve the inhabitants’ health status and decrease the spread of disease.

The partners are building human and institutional capacity at Makerere so that the University and its faculty have the skills and knowledge to promote safe drinking water throughout Uganda. Using new lab and field equipment, the partners are surveying water sources and sanitation facilities in the two communities, collecting data on the incidence and effects of diseases commonly transferred by water and contact with human waste. The partnership actively involves Makerere students in documenting the unique features of both communities, and encourages them to develop problem-solving and observational skills.

Another key goal of this partnership that of building capacity among the community inhabitants to address water and sanitation issues themselves, and empowering them to transfer their knowledge to other communities. In addition to “top-down” graduate-level training opportunities, short courses, and faculty and student exchanges, a “bottom-up” certificate program and regular support from partnership staff for community-based certificate holders will teach, reinforce and spread improved sanitation practices.