HCASSC has signed a landmark tripartite cooperation agreement with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) to deliver safe piped water, improved sanitation, and hygiene promotion to 12 rural communities across Ghana's Upper West Region and Nigeria's Kebbi State — a project expected to benefit an estimated 18,000 people over a 24-month implementation period.
The project will involve the drilling and equipping of 14 deep boreholes, construction of an elevated water storage tank in each community, installation of distribution pipework to communal tap stands, construction of 240 household latrines targeting the poorest families, and establishment of WASH committees trained to manage and maintain infrastructure independently after handover.
A dedicated hygiene promotion component — led by 36 trained Community Health Volunteers — will reach every household with messaging on handwashing, safe water storage, and open-defecation-free practices, using community theatre, radio broadcasts, and door-to-door visits.
"Waterborne disease is one of the leading killers of children under five in these communities," said WHO Representative Dr. Amara Kouyaté. "This partnership addresses not just access to water, but the behaviours that determine whether that water is used safely."
HCASSC will lead field implementation and community engagement, UNICEF will provide technical oversight and supply procurement, and WHO will handle health impact monitoring. The project is scheduled to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2026, with an independent evaluation commissioned for 2027.