Sanitation and hygiene are critical to prevent premature deaths in children and the development of a healthy society. An estimated 1.7 billion people, or about 22% of the world’s population, lack basic sanitation facilities such as access to toilets. Around 2.3 billion people (about 29%) lack access to basic hygienic conditions, such as access to a handwashing station with soap and water at home, school, or work, and disposal of wastewater and garbage. Chemists Without Borders works with the communities to help them improve their sanitation and hygienic conditions.
Wastewater treatment system in Bangladesh
Chemists Without Borders has been working with the Terial School administration to develop a total sanitation system. This includes construction of 36 toilets (20 for girls and 16 for boys), 16 hand washing stations, and a wastewater treatment system with a sand filter to remove all contaminants before the effluent is released to the local stream.
