Hand washing Compendium for Low Resource Settings: A Living Document

Frequent and proper handwashing with soap is one of the most important measures that can be used to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, along with physical distancing, avoiding touching one’s face (eyes, nose and mouth) and practicing good respiratory hygiene. Yet 40 per cent of households lack access to a facility with soap and water, of which 18 per cent have no facility whatsoever (WHO and UNICEF, 2020). 
 In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Sanitation Learning Hub at the Institute of Development Studies has rapidly developed the Handwashing Compendium for Low Resource Settings that can be used to support increased access to facilities and promote positive handwashing behaviours. 
 The compendium provides guidance on low-cost handwashing facilities that can be widely used in low and middle-income countries. We hope that this can be shared extensively as governments and agencies tackle the crisis in low and middle-income countries where handwashing facilities are urgently needed in households, communities, schools and healthcare facilities. 
 The compendium includes information and further reading on: • Handwashing facilities – including facilities that are accessible for all. • Environmental cues to reinforce handwashing behaviours. • Physical distancing hygiene promotion. 
 Download report.

India faces certainty of Water Challenge in an uncertain environment to meet the challenge.

Born and brought up in a village on the bank of Buckingham Canal, imaging a water stressed region was difficult. This McKinsey  report is disturbing as the bridging measure appear in-feasible. 

By 2030, under an average economic growth scenario and if no efficiency gains are assumed, global water requirements would grow from 4,500 billion m3 today (or 4.5 thousand cubic kilometers) to 6,900 billion m3. This is a full 40 percent above current accessible, reliable supply (including return flows, and taking into account that a portion of supply should be reserved for environmental requirements ). By 2030, demand in India will grow to almost 1.5 trillion m3, driven by domestic demand for rice, wheat, and sugar for a growing population, a large proportion of which is moving toward a middle-class diet. Against this demand, India’s current water supply is approximately 740 billion m3. As a result, most of India’s river basins could face severe deficit by 2030 unless concerted action is taken, with some of the most populous—including the Ganga, the Krishna, and the Indian portion of the Indus—facing the biggest absolute gap. The report lists many measures to reduce demand and increase supply. 

As per this report, the biggest additional source for water is National River Linking Project (NRLP)- will it ever take off?  I first heard of reversing course of river during visit to Chicago and American civil engineers achieved this feat in year 1900- how admirable.