In PNG today an estimated 80% of people continue to defecate directly into their local environment. PNG’s ranking amongst the worst in the world for access to safe, hygiene sanitation is directly linked to the country’s poor health incomes in terms of typhoid; cholera; polio; stunting; malnutrition and high child mortality rates.

Despite the link between sanitation and health outcomes being well known, rates of access to safe sanitation in PNG have failed to keep pace even with population growth. There is now an urgent need for WASH programmes that are rapidly scalable, to maximise the positive health impact.

Beyond health impacts – and while less widely acknowledged - poor sanitation in rural areas is giving rise to increased social and law and order challenges.

Giving such settings, innovative WASH programmes which deliver improved health outcomes, are highly scalable AND also respond to broader social and community settings, stand to be the most impactful.

Liklik Haus Kamapim Bigpela Senis (15 minutes) featured on NBC PNG’s A Current Affair on World Toilet Day, 2018. It documents how Wantaim PNG’s discussions with 14 rural communities inspired a locally led pilot which resulted in the completion of beautiful, safe, sanitation facilities for 320 people across 3 communities. With community elders leading teams of youth and passing on traditional and western skills, it is a story of hope as well as a celebration of tradition and culture.