Access to water, sanitation and hygiene: a survey assessment of persons with disabilities in rural Mali

摘要

This paper presents results from a survey on access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for personswith disabilities in rural communities of Mali, West Africa. The objective of this survey was to assessnumbers and types of [persons with] disabilities in relation to access and use of WASH facilities. Relatedpublic attitudes and preferences of persons with disabilities were also assessed within target communitiesserved by World Vision Mali. The survey found that persons with disabilities face considerableconstraints in regards to the access and use of most water and sanitation facilities. Specific difficultiesrelated to fetching and transporting water, drawing and pumping water, washing the body and latrineuse are explained. The results of the study should serve to fill a major void in reliable, quantitativeinformation on the number and types of disabilities in rural communities of West Africa, especially asthey relate to issues of WASH. They also serve to provide much needed baseline information upon whichpolicy, guidelines and infrastructure/technology design can be developed or enhanced so as to assuremore equitable access and use of WASH facilities by persons with physical disabilities.