Putting an end to environmental suffering

Muhammad, 47 years old, is one of many residents in his community who have suffered due to inadequate sanitation. He feared the hazards of an uncovered sewage system and its effect on his family of seven. The stench caused by the sewage over the past two years, and the harmful insects it attracted, was overwhelming. Muhammad said, "We used to sit in our home fearing insects, especially Leishmaniasis flies." Sewage would flow down the street every other day creating a miserable environment for residents. They didn’t allow their children to play outdoors due to the risk of exposure to certain diseases, such as Leishmaniasis, especially given the lack of adequate health care in the city. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by a type of sand-fly which affects the skin or the internal organs. One of the residents shared, “We didn’t want to send our children to school because they had to cross swamps of sewage water. And would be exposed to very harmful insects”. The local council didn’t have the capacity to rehabilitate the sewage system. Several problems accumulated leading the local council to contact World Vision's "water and Sanitation and hygiene" team to find a solution for this critical problem.

Great Transformation 

Responding to the local council request, World Vision’s team of experienced field engineers rehabilitated the sewage system to ensure a sanitary environment for the residents. From the project outset, residents observed the work and expressed an interest in helping out. The end of the project was a joyous time for residents. The foul odours and Leishmaniosis flies were gone. One child even cried happily and said “Now we can play in our nice street again”.