Hosanna Project - Great news!

Initiated in February 2007, the Hosanna Project targeted ten rural communities (kebeles), with a total population of 55,800. Four Lifewater teams trained indigenous trainers who trained community leaders. According to government surveys, the independent baseline sur­vey, and the final project evaluation, the Hosanna Project boosted latrine coverage in the project area from 60.9 percent to 97.2 percent. Not reflected in these numbers is the significant improve­ments made in 5,390 old latrines, many of which had been count­ed in the baseline survey but were deemed inadequate. The local government health offices responsible for monitor­ing public health reported that acute watery diarrhea, which had been the number two health risk to children dropped completely out of the top ten. In one survey conducted at the project’s conclusion, only 16 of 396 families with children under five years old had an incidence of diarrhea in the past two weeks (4 percent). In the baseline survey, the number was 63 (43 percent). For more details go to www.Lifewater.org