Water is essential for life, for cooking, washing and bathing. Water is also essential for subsistence farmers, for irrigation and agricultural use. Most rural Cameroonian households collect their daily water needs from rivers and streams – this not only takes up valuable time but also means that the water sources are often polluted, and that collecting water for agricultural purposes is not possible so fields are left unirrigated. Increasing poverty among local communities displays their inability to attain certain social development objectives. Many people do not have access to clean water and health services due to poorly managed water sources and health facilities. Water related and sexually transmissible diseases such as cholera, malaria, dysentery, and HIV/AIDS are rife. Moreover, basic materials and equipment needed for the treatment of these diseases are either absent, inaccessible or unaffordable to these vulnerable communities. ECoDAs works to fight waste, pollution and the overuse of water through an ongoing effort to educate and raise awareness among the local population. We promote water conservation practices, participatory management of water and integrated watershed development and infrastructure.
- Building awareness on the linkages between water quality, poor sanitation practices and health;
- Organizing water and sanitation education and training at schools and community levels;
- Advocating national policy development and changes in the advancement of water and sanitation services that take into consideration community need;,
- Advocating support for provision of basics water supply and sanitation services in disadvantaged local communities;