Poor access to safe water supply and sanitation in Zambia’s rural areas is a major contributing factor to poverty. The relatively high incidence of water and sanitation related diseases, particularly diarrhoea, results in high health costs to individuals and communities.
Women and children spend a disproportionate amount of time and effort in daily chores of water collection, and caring for those suffering from water and sanitation-related diseases. Community-led total sanitation increases women’s opportunities to engage in productive activities to improve their socio-economic advancement.2012 © UNICEF Zambia/Christine Nesbitt.