Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is one of UST’s key Programs. Its implementation began early in 1986. Initially, WaSH a component of integrated programs. UST considered water and sanitation as people’s basic needs. But they were deprived of safe water and sanitation. Open defecation was randomly practiced which resulted in the spread of manifold diseases. Having observed this plight UST included WaSH in its integrated program. Awareness building on use of safe water and sanitation, personal health keeping and installation of TWs and Latrines were the major activities of integrated program. UST’s WaSH program provided services to the poor, ultra poor people in different geographical areas.
With the progress of time, UST gained capacity and skills, its projects were flourished more. The approach is split up and WaSH program takes shape as a thematic area, and became a big program. Numerous innovative WaSH projects were launched. UST implemented its projects through community-led approach.
UST provides WaSH service in different categories which encompasses installation of safe water facilities, hygienic toilets, Hygiene promotion, Menstrual Hygiene Management, Solid Waste Management and so on. Technological innovation (Climate resilient, disable friendly) is another pull to UST’s WaSH program. For the most part, we have emphasized on the protection of poor, deprived women and children from water scarcity and promote access to safely managed water facilities. UST works for ensuring people’s access to improved safe water and hygienic toilet facilities at Household, Community, Market and schools. UST puts in efforts to meet SDG by implementing water and sanitation program.
WaSH program came as a separate full-fledged project in 2001. This project was implemented in Nilphamari, Gaibandha and Shariatpur. It was women-led WaSH program, implemented through CLTS approach. UST believes that people’s development is in people’s hand so without people’s participation in the development process, the real development can hardly be achieved. Thus, women were in the center of planning, implementation and monitoring of the program. It was a three-year project, ran under Water Aid financing.
UST has implemented numerous projects in 33 years. It has gained experience of CLTHYWASH, ASEH, CATS etc. Water Aid is its major donor. GoB-unicef, HySAWA Fund, UNICEF-Practical Action, Penny Appeal-UK are also doors of UST. It has covered 22 districts and 60 Upazila. Quite substantial numbers of people have received WaSH service from UST.
UST has many successes. It has achieved ODF village, people’s improved health and development of women’s practice relating to menstrual hygiene management.