PROJECT #: 968/2023 

In response to the urgent health and sanitation challenges exacerbated by the ongoing socio-political crisis in the South West Region of Cameroon, Caritas of the Diocese of Buea is implementing a vital 36-month Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) project. This initiative runs from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026, and is dedicated to saving lives, restoring dignity, and building resilient communities.

The Challenge: A Public Health Crisis

The crisis has severely disrupted the region’s health system, leaving communities vulnerable. With many health facilities non-functional, access to essential care is limited, and the risk of epidemics is high.

Fako Division has been a hotspot for waterborne diseases, particularly cholera. During the 2022 outbreak, the division accounted for over 76% of the cases in the region. Displaced populations and host communities often live in conditions with little access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, creating a high-risk environment for the spread of disease.

Our Response: A Holistic WASH Strategy

The primary goal of this project is to contribute to improving families’ livelihoods, reinforcing resilience, and enhancing the quality of life by directly tackling the root causes of waterborne diseases.

Our key interventions include:

• Access to Safe Water: We will construct 12 new boreholes to provide a sufficient quantity of safe water for drinking and domestic needs for 12,000 people. These water points will be strategically located to ensure equitable and safe access for all community members.
• Hygiene Promotion and Awareness: Through mass media campaigns, community meetings, and the training of 60 influential local leaders and volunteers, we will ensure that 12,000 people are aware of key public health risks and can adopt practices to reduce them.
• Distribution of Hygiene Items: 2,700 of the most vulnerable households will receive essential hygiene items tailored to the specific needs of men, women, children, and persons with disabilities to support their health and dignity.
• Community Empowerment and Sustainability: To ensure the long-term success of the project, we will establish and train 12 Water Management Committees to operate and maintain the new water points. We will also promote 12 micro-initiatives and income-generating activities around the water points to support local livelihoods.

Target Beneficiaries

This project is designed to reach the most vulnerable populations affected by the crisis. Our direct beneficiaries include:

• 12,000 individuals
• 3,600 most vulnerable households
• 200 people living with disabilities
• 40 communities

The project’s overall impact will extend to a final beneficiary population of approximately 100,000 individuals, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), host communities, and the most needy.

Geographical Scope

The project will be implemented across 40 villages and communities within the Fako Division of the South West Region, including areas in and around Buea, Limbe, Tiko, Muyuka, and Idenau.

Through this comprehensive WASH project, Caritas of the Diocese of Buea reaffirms its commitment to restoring dignity, promoting health, and building a healthier future for the communities we serve.