WaterAid and HIV/AIDS

An exploration of the links between poor hygiene and HIV/AIDS in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries in the world, has seen a huge number of its population fall victim to HIV/AIDS over the last 20 years. It is now estimated that around 6.6% of the population are infected and, as in most countries, young adults aged between 24 and 30 are the worst affected.

Hundreds of thousands of people are unable to work. The number of orphaned children is increasing and many elderly parents are left with no support as their children succumb to the virus. This has huge implications on their education and the development of the country in the future.

WaterAid and its partner Progynist have recently been investigating the links between water, sanitation and hygiene and HIV/AIDS. While everyone is vulnerable to HIV/AIDS the people worst affected are those living in overcrowded areas that lack adequate sanitation, water supplies and medical facilities.

Access to a potable water supply and a latrine is a basic human right, especially essential for those living with HIV/AIDS. Diseased water can be fatal to those with debilitated immune systems. It has been estimated that 90% of sufferers in the Lideta sub-city of Addis Ababa have contracted diarrhea. Over 60% of these people do not have access to latrines and 70% lack access to clean water.

Discrimination is also a huge problem for those suffering with HIV/AIDS. This is most commonly experienced in relation to latrines, where ignorance leads to sufferers being banned from using latrines as others fear they will become infected. There can also be discrimination amongst family members with children refusing to care for their parents through fear of contamination.

There is some hope for sufferers living in the Lideta sub city of Addis Ababa. Progynist has been working in the area to deliver hygiene and sanitation education by training school teachers, running workshops and employing sanitation guards to carry out house to house visits.

They have also been involved in constructing sanitation facilities in the area including communal latrines, public baths, waste water drainage, and water points. These measures should help to increase the standard of living of people suffering with HIV or AIDS.

However, to improve the situation further more research needs to be carried out into issues including:

• The links between levels of infection and the provision of hygiene and sanitation facilities
  
• The importance of hygiene and sanitation facilities compared to medical supplies and good nutrition
  
• How to reduce discrimination against sufferers

For a fuller exploration of this issue read the WaterAid/Progynist report Making the Links ( PDF 210Kb)