Project profile — Water, Sanitation and Smokeless Stoves in Ramechhap

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2013) include: Drinking water systems: Five water systems were installed by villagers in three small villages and two larger towns, serving 260 families or 1,625 women, children, and men. Time spent carrying water by the women before the water systems were installed was, on average, 240 minutes per day. This has been reduced to less than 60 minutes per day since the water systems were installed. The time saved is mostly spent on vegetable gardening. Sanitation: 6,280 sealed, hygienic toilets were installed by homeowners, serving 36,076 women, children, and men. The number of cases of gastrointestinal problems reported, such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, and worms, has dropped from 896 cases in the year before the toilets were installed to 176 cases in the year after the toilets were installed. Smokeless stoves: 1,617 smokeless, high-efficiency stoves have been installed by villagers, serving 9,002 women, children, and men. Respiratory disease, eye problems, and coughing spells have decreased from 295 cases in the year before the stoves were installed to 50 cases in the year after the stoves were installed. Wood use dropped from 150 kg (five loads) per week to 90 kg (three loads) per week. This reduced the time spent carrying wood and the amount spend on fuel by 40%.