SUSTAINABILITY INDEX OF WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) INTERVENTIONS IN FREETOWN OF WESTERN SIERRA LEONE

Abstract

This dissertation looks at the synthetic sustainable of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services and its likely impacts on society and the environment. WASH sustainable interventions are assessed based on the developments that are sustainable for social, environment and economic. These dimensions are fully accessed by looking at the institutional performance, management style, financing and appropriate technology. Sustainable WASH interventions are crucial to inter-generational equity for all. Sustainable growth caters to the current population, keeping in mind opportunities for the future societal perceptions, technological and scientific progress. Several papers were reviewed that relate to sustainable WASH interventions. The Study identified issues and challenges of WASH and its benefit to society and the environment. Accessing adequate and quality WASH services mostly adapted to control diseases that cause morbidity among children in countries that are developing. Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital, on the Southern bank of the river’s estuary with latitude 8˚ 29’ 2.39’’ and longitude 13˚ 14’ 2.40’’. The population have grown tremendous after the 11 years of civil unrest and serves as an economic, cultural, educational and political hub of Sierra Leone. It has expanded into delicate zones and broken the catchment for water into pieces. The extensions have coursed the city to be congested and unplanned with many areas lacking WASH services. Sustainable WASH interventions cater to improving water supply, water quality, sanitation and hygiene through good policy, political will, adequate investment and sustainable environment. The methodology involved developing the assessment tools that are the Sustainability Index Tool (SIT), catering for all interventions in Freetown. The study synthesised information which was evaluated to give a low sustainability index for WASH services in Freetown. 32 indicator questions were developed to access institutional, management, financial and technical. Sustainable WASH index on interventions is 46.7% for 2017, showing a low sustainability as compared with the international H2O (USAID and Rotary International). The demand for WASH is on the increase whose measures can improve HDI. WASH services are human right related, yet more people are still faced with the challenge of haven access to adequate and quality WASH services because of weak policies, inadequate water Page | iv management laws and institutional framework, and weak public sectors. Improving WASH services could enhance the educational sector, health, economy and raise the life expectancy. It is, therefore, desired to explore sustainable WASH services to Freetown. Keeping this in mind, the present study has been carried out. The study identifies and access the issues and challenges relating to WASH services and suggests measures for the sustainable WASH services which can better human lives and the environment