Photo by RET

Article by RET in Venezuela

A key component of leading a dignified life is having reliable access to clean water. In Venezuela, RET has been working closely with municipalities through the Bolívar region to support this endeavor. Though a project developed with the accompaniment and financing of IOM, RET directly served 3,731 beneficiaries in 19 health centers and 20 communities. Our actions focused on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues essential for a dignified life, adapted to the context and environment.

Watch our latest video, and hear from the communities themselves about the impact this project has had. Want to support more work like this? Donate to RET today.

From June 2023 to March 2024, we successfully carried out this work in the municipalities of Caroní, Angostura del Orinoco, Sucre, Cedeño and Gran Sabana in the state of Bolívar. The overall purpose of the project was to provide emergency assistance affecting vulnerable populations, and we reached 3,731 individuals directly (2,201 women and 1,530 men) and an additional 6,048 individuals indirectly (2,950 women/girls and 3,098 men/boys). Aside from impacting individual lives, we made a tangible impact on these communities, including:

• 19 health centers that received assessments, recommendations, training, and staffing related to ASH in healthcare settings, to adequately care for and protect patients, staff, and caregivers from infection risks (PCI).
• 19 WASH teams that were formed and remained active to monitor the activities and management of the ICH programs established in each health center, through action plans and follow-up forms for health personnel, focal points, promoters and volunteers.
• 19 health centers that received disinfection kits and 2 replacements, for a total of 57 deliveries.
• 10 health facilities selected from the application of the assessment tools (WASHFIT) were rehabilitated, and improvements were made in minor rehabilitations in terms of ASH, complying with standards in sectors such as water, sanitation, hand hygiene, environmental cleanliness, health care waste management, and certain aspects of facilities management.  buildings and energy.
• 1,800 water filters that were delivered in the municipalities of Cedeño and Gran Sabana in the state of Bolívar, ensuring access to drinking water in a sustainable way in the communities.
• 1,778 heads of household and 22 educational centers with representation of principals and teachers were trained in the use of water filters, safe water use practices and maintenance of filters.
• 3,424 people were sensitized around health centers on community issues of good hygiene practices, including hand washing, waste disposal, safe treatment and storage of water at home, as well as disease prevention.

How did we accomplish all of this? We used international tools and standards (PCI and WASHFIT) to support the rehabilitation and corrective maintenance of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in selected health centers. Through trainings, workshops, and implementing changes with – not for – the local communities, we also contributed to strengthening the skills of health personnel and community health workers, improved access to basic primary health care for the beneficiaries of the project and ensured the functioning of these health centers.

We also sought to ensure inclusive and non-discriminatory participation of the entire population, along with a strong feedback and accountability strategy with communities, facilitating the voice and contribution of all groups involved in decision-making and program adjustments. An impressive 80% of filter beneficiaries reported a decrease in water-borne diseases such as diarrhea and vomiting. Meanwhile, indigenous communities now recognized the benefits of hand washing techniques and the use of chlorination as a preference for water treatment (tablets and liquid chlorine), which helped these good practices spread even further.

This project benefitted from RET’s extensive experience, and lessons learned in Venezuela, from the execution of multiple projects in these geographical sectors and areas of knowledge, leveraging with this previous knowledge in the achievement of the objectives of the intervention. It’s initiatives like these that demonstrate how even basic needs like access to clean water and improved health and hygiene can have an enormous impact on communities.

This project, “Assistance to improve WASH services and infrastructure in the state of Bolívar”, was implemented by RET in Venezuela between June 2023 and April 2024 with financing from IOM.

To support the critical work we’re doing in Venezuela – and around the world – donate to RET today.