13.8 million people don't have clean water close to home.
13.8 million people don't have clean water close to home.
That's almost half the population.
25.2 million don't have a decent toilet of their own.
25.2 million don't have a decent toilet of their own.
That's 9 in 10 people.
More than 1,800 children under the age of five die a year from diarrhoea
More than 1,800 children under the age of five die a year from diarrhoea
caused by dirty water, and poor toilets and hygiene.
Time to celebrate
These were the words of grandma Razafindrasoa as she drank clean water for the first time.
You could feel the excitement in the air in her remote village of Lovasoa. People were looking for banana leaves to decorate the water points, and some were building a fence around the tap stands, while others planted green palm trees. It was a big day for everyone.
One by one, people turned on the taps and clean water came gushing out. Many of the children had never seen clean water before. Some people screamed with joy, some smiled and clapped their hands. People were astonished and amazed. Many hesitated and asked for help before turning the tap. They couldn’t believe it.
This happy moment is life changing. It’s a time to celebrate. But the real celebration will be when clean water becomes a normal part of daily life, changing everything.