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RedR runs successful WASH Week in Haiti

12 May 2010

RedR runs successful WASH Week in Haiti

With more than a million Haitians living in temporary settlements and camps following the massive January 12 earthquake, the need for safe water, adequate sanitation and effective hygiene promotion is urgent. To meet the growing demand for training in emergency water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) from aid agencies in Port-au-Prince, RedR ran a series of intensive workshops from 3 – 7 May as part of a dedicated ‘WASH Week’.

Cheryl McDonald from RedR, who delivered the training, comments: "The response to WASH Week from people working on the ground has been overwhelming. Everyone is asking when the next training is and saying we want to send the rest of our team on it! It was heartening to hear from one of the participants that they were heading straight back to their team to share their new ideas and then check that what they have learnt this week is being directly implemented in their activities."

The training courses were delivered as part of the combined RedR and Bioforce country programme - Disaster Response Support Services (DRSS) – and consisted of interactive half-day workshops with each day covering a new key area of WASH emergency response. The first day covered vector control and waterborne diseases, such as malaria and diarrhoeal diseases, lymphatic filarisis, and dengue fever. The second day looked at water sources and treatment options, as well as Sphere standards for water supply in emergencies, and the third day at emergency sanitation, incorporating different options, practical demonstrations and local perspectives. The final day’s workshop covered solid waste management in emergencies, and gave participants an introduction to what disaster waste is and how to manage it.

In line with RedR’s continued focus on developing the skills of local aid workers, the course participants were almost entirely Haitian relief personnel working for a variety of national and international aid agencies, including Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), Islamic Relief, MSF and Tearfund.

Feedback from the workshops has been extremely positive, with the average course rating being 4.7 out of 5. Participants particularly liked the interactive and systematic approach to training, as well as the use of simulations and group workshops. One of the course participants, Sanold Lazare of MSF, explained how he felt the training would benefit him in his work: “Today’s training made me think about the next steps that we should be taking in water supply. How will the people living in Port au Prince move beyond this emergency phase and not rely on emergency solutions (like water trucking) which are currently subsidised by organisations?”

Supporting best WASH practice moving forward

This series of workshops will help ensure that solutions for water, sanitation and hygiene are suitable, effective and sustainable, based on existing practices and with input from local communities. The training has been designed to incorporate knowledge gained so far from the response in Haiti, including recommendations of best practice given in a recent study which looked at sanitation options for the country.

To further ensure that the latest water and sanitation research and strategies for Haiti were integrated into the training, specific sessions were led by WASH Cluster representatives. Pierre Laurent, UNICEF WASH focal point for water supply, covered medium term water supply options for Haiti and Ben Harvey, the UNICEF WASH focal point for sanitation, supported training on sanitation and solid waste management.

The DRSS programme has been running in Haiti since February and to date has provided training for 327 people from agencies such as Save the Children, Oxfam, UNICEF, Christian Aid, Action Contre la Faim, Haitian Red Cross, Tearfund and GOAL. With an emphasis on developing the skills of local aid workers, so far 94 per cent of trainees have been Haitian.

‘WASH Week’ continues the focus of the DRSS to build local capacity within the aid community in Haiti and means those who are still displaced as a result of the earthquake have a better chance of receiving clean water and adequate sanitation facilities.

This training has been possible thanks to a donation given by Thames Water, which was designated for WASH activities. RedR would like to thank Thames Water and all other companies and individuals for their donations to the programme. For details of all donors and for more information about RedR’s programme in Haiti or to make a donation, please visit www.redr.org.uk/Haiti, email fundraising@redr.org.uk or call 020 7840 6000.

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