Integrated approach to HIV and water, sanitation and hygiene in Southern Africa

This report documents findings of a rapid assessment on existing implementation linkages between HIV responses on one hand, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) on the other, in four southern African countries: Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia. The review was conducted in July 2014 by consultants commissioned by SAfAIDS and WaterAid. This rapid assessment is a forerunner of a number of pilot activities to be conducted in Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia to explore how HIV and WASH can be better integrated.

Ensuring that HIV and WASH services are carefully integrated can lead to positive health outcomes. Water, sanitation and good hygiene are the basic drivers of public health: access to safe water, adequate sanitation, and proper hygiene education can reduce illness and death from many diseases, and thus aid poverty reduction and socio-economic development.