WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) CONDITIONS AND ITS IMPACT ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX (HDI) OF KAILAHUN DISTRICT, SIERRA LEONE

Abstract

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services contribute to the life expectancy rate, education rate, income level, and hence improve the Human Development Index (HDI). Countries like Sierra Leone in the Western part of Africa are facing the problem of low HDI. Kailahun, one of the districts in the Eastern part of Sierra Leone, has faced the widespread destruction during and after the eleven years of civil war and thereafter the natural disasters. In order to improve public health, the government is struggling to implement an effective WASH strategy. This study highlights the existing WASH conditions in the Kailahun district of Sierra Leone. An attempt has been made to assess its sustainability as well as the customer’s satisfaction with the WASH-related services. WASH Sustainability Index (WASH_SI) is assessed using the financial, institutional, management and technological indicators. These indicators influence the social, economy and environment of the district, which are the basis of sustainable development. The customer’s satisfaction is assessed through a modified SERVQUAL model in terms of reliability, assurance, tangibles, empathy and responsiveness (RATER Indicators). A Google-based questionnaire was carried out to collect information about the existing WASH conditions in the district. The questionnaire consists of 31 questions related to WASH sustainability and 22 questions related to the customer’s satisfaction. The HDI is assessed based on life expectancy, education rate and the income level of the people in the districts. It is found to be 0.419, which is termed as low. The probable reasons for such a low HDI in Kailahun district are due to the widespread destruction during and after the eleven years of civil war that have led to massive poverty among the people, widespread deficiency disease, high child and kid mortality rates, low expectancy, deficient infrastructure, poor instructional structures and therefore the lack of convenience of basic medical facilities In order to improve this HDI, it is suggested that the government should adopt certain measures to increase the gross national income per head, improve the health infrastructure and the educational standard of the people in the districts.