Peru - Supporting Sanitation projects in Urban communities
On the outskirts of Lima in Peru, hundreds of informal settlements continue to mushroom in unsafe and unsanitary conditions: these settlements are now home to about one-third of the capital’s population of 8 million people.
Living conditions in the settlements are extremely basic, but they are the only option available for many migrant families. Almost 90% of the families living in these areas have travelled from rural parts of the country in search of work. Their economic situation means that they would be unable to afford more suitable accommodation, even if it was available.
In the district of San Juan de Lurigancho in the north east of the city, there are approximately one million inhabitants. Within this area of informal settlements, the Presentation Sisters work in six smaller districts, which have a combined population of around 8,000 people.
In the last 10 years the Sisters have realised that one of the biggest problems facing inhabitants is sub-standard water and sanitation facilities in households, which results in poor health levels and lower quality of life.
Much of the accommodation is located to one side of a mountain, with the result that householders are forced to carry water long distances uphill: this task falls predominately to women.
The Sisters recently received funding from Misean Cara to connect over 400 dwellings to the street water mains and to install water and sanitation infrastructure for these households.
Additionally the Sisters provided health and
hygiene workshops for women on the use of water and sanitation
facilities as a means to prevent water- and sewage-borne illnesses.
Training on basic plumbing and sanitary installations also featured
as part of the work.
By addressing this basic and urgent need, the project is tackling
some of the root causes of poor health and contributing towards a
more sustainable physical environment for the people of the
settlements.