Americares, Xylem Partnership Delivers Clean Water And Sanitation To 3.5 Million People In 10 Countries In 2020, Aiding COVID-19 Response
Xylem Watermark, in collaboration with Americares, aims to improve access to clean water and sanitation for 1 million people in 2021, building on prior success that reached 3.5 million during the pandemic. They will provide WASH infrastructure repairs and education in six countries, including India and Bangladesh, to help communities facing COVID-19 spikes. Notably, in Mumbai, the initiative will support healthcare facilities for 70,000 people in low-income areas. The program reflects a commitment to water security in impoverished regions while integrating health support to mitigate infection risks.
- Xylem Watermark aims to reach 1 million people with clean water and sanitation in 2021.
- Partnership with Americares successfully helped 3.5 million people in previous efforts.
- Focus on frontline healthcare workers in six countries, including urgent support for low-income areas in Mumbai.
- WASH infrastructure improvements are expected to significantly reduce infection risks.
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Xylem Watermark, the corporate social responsibility program of global water technology company Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL), and health-focused relief and development organization, Americares, aim to reach 1 million people in 2021, through their collaboration to improve access to clean water and sanitation. The program builds on the first year of the partnership, which delivered clean water and sanitation services to over 3.5 million people, helping to slow the spread of COVID-19.
In 2021, the partners will provide water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure repairs and education to frontline healthcare workers and communities across six countries including India and Bangladesh, currently experiencing COVID-19 spikes. In Mumbai, where informal, urban settlement communities are particularly impacted by the second wave of the pandemic, interventions will include rehabilitating WASH facilities at healthcare facilities, serving 70,000 people from the city’s most low-income areas. The partners will also provide WASH assistance to disaster-prone coastal communities in Bangladesh, including those still recovering from Cyclone Amphan.
“Washing hands with soap and water is one of the most effective measures in the fight against COVID-19. Through our partnership with Americares we aim to bring this message to life for communities around the world and to empower them through improved access to clean water and sanitation,” said Austin Alexander, Vice President of Sustainability and Social Impact at Xylem. “We have a unique responsibility and opportunity to make water security a reality for the world’s most impoverished communities, and we’re united with Americares in this pursuit.”
“This partnership brings together Xylem’s water technology expertise and commitment to increasing access to clean water with Americares work supporting under-resourced hospitals and health clinics worldwide,” said Americares Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer Dr. M. Rashad Massoud. “Clean water and sanitation in health facilities protects both patients and the health workers who make good health possible. Together, we are saving lives and improving health for millions of people in need.”
In 2020, the partnership’s COVID-19 WASH interventions trained 1,600 health professionals across 60 countries in the delivery of WASH education, and constructed or restored 175 WASH facilities. These interventions delivered access to clean, safe water and sanitation for 3.5 million people.
About Xylem
Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to solving critical water and infrastructure challenges with innovation. Our more than 16,000 diverse employees delivered revenue of
About Xylem Watermark
Xylem Watermark, the company’s corporate citizenship program, was initiated in 2008, with a focus on protecting and providing safe water resources around the world and also educating people on water-related issues. The global initiative, which encompasses employee and stakeholder engagement, provides access to clean drinking water and sanitation, and humanitarian emergency response to help communities become more water-secure and sustainable through WASH and Value of Water Education programs. The program has logged over 230,000 employee volunteer hours over the past five years and engaged 58 percent of the company’s global employee base.
About Americares
Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster. Each year, Americares reaches 90 countries on average, including the United States, with life-changing health programs, medicine, medical supplies and emergency aid. Americares is the world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies. For more information, visit americares.org.
Notes to Editor:
Xylem Watermark and Americares 2021 WASH Interventions:
1. India; Rehabilitate handwashing stations, toilets and water treatment systems in healthcare facilities across Mumbai. The intervention aims to reduce the spread of infection in facilities serving slum communities, as the second wave of Covid-19 continues to impact India's healthcare system.
2. Malawi: Enhance access to water for handwashing by improving water systems at three health centers as well as constructing latrines in health centers. The partnership will also deliver WASH training for village health committees, school sanitation clubs and broader communities, with a focus on preventing Cholera.
3. Tanzania; The program aims to protect the safety of patients at a district hospital by upgrading the laundry facilities and enhancing access to water and IPC-compliant handwashing stations at a nearby nursing school. Handwashing stations are not widely accessible at health facilities in the country and many of the ones in use are not hands-free.
4. Philippines: The pandemic has put extreme stress on a health system that was already under-resourced. The partnership will increase, upgrade or repair water and sanitation systems in health facilities in Cebu and Laguna and train community health workers in promoting safe water practices.
5. Honduras: Conduct critical WASH infrastructure repairs and upgrades at a major hospital in Tegucigalpa including rehabilitating and building new bathroom facilities.
6. Bangladesh: Conduct WASH interventions to address the needs of disaster-prone coastal communities, including those still recovering from Cyclone Amphan. Activities will include rehabilitating and building new latrines, installing handwashing stations and providing WASH training for health workers and community health promoters.
7. Emergency Programs: Americares and Xylem Watermark will train emergency responders in WASH and pre-position WASH kits and equipment for use by Americares response teams during emergencies.
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