The Baxter International Foundation and UNICEF Partner to Expand Access to Safe Water and Sanitation in Egypt
28 Novembre 2023 - 3:00PM
Business Wire
- Program is designed to deliver prevention-focused,
climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for
families and children in Egypt
- Builds upon existing partnership that is improving water
security in Colombia
The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm of
Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), and UNICEF, today announced a
partnership to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation
in five water-challenged regions in Egypt. Supported by a $2.5
million grant from the Foundation, this three-year initiative aims
to implement climate-smart water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
programming for thousands of people in Upper Egypt’s governorates
of Aswan, Assiut, Quena, Minya and Luxor through community
engagement, education and rehabilitation of primary health
units.
“Clean, safe water is fundamental to life, yet water scarcity
remains a critical issue in certain parts of the world,” said José
(Joe) E. Almeida, chairman, president and chief executive officer
at Baxter. “We are honored to continue partnering with UNICEF to
support regional water initiatives that make a meaningful
difference for underserved communities, in line with Baxter’s 2030
Corporate Responsibility Commitment and Goals.”
Having access to an environment with safe water, basic toilets
and good hygiene practices is crucial in giving children a healthy
start to life. In fact, diseases caused by unsafe water and poor
sanitation are among the world’s leading causes of death in
children under five years old.1 Climate change is a key factor that
contributes to inequitable water access in many areas worldwide.
Changes in water cycle patterns caused by extreme weather make it
more difficult to access safe drinking water, especially for the
most vulnerable children. According to United Nations official
data, Egypt has an annual water deficit of around seven billion
cubic meters and 7.3 million people in Egypt are deprived of access
to safe water.2
“Every child has a right to a clean and safe environment,” said
Michael J. Nyenhuis, president and CEO, UNICEF USA. “With the
support of the Baxter International Foundation, UNICEF can help
reach children and families in Egypt with access to safe water and
provide the resources and education needed to face the impacts of
climate change.”
Through the partnership with the Baxter International Foundation
in Egypt, UNICEF aims to:
- Provide technical support to national and local governments to
increase access to WASH services, equipping more than 4,000
households with safe drinking water and sewage connections.
- Improve access to quality WASH services in more than 100
primary care units, including gender-separated and
disability-friendly sanitation services.
- Help 150 schools and 40 nurseries develop and implement action
plans and mitigation strategies focused on climate change and
WASH.
- Support medical teams at health facilities in delivering
climate-adaptive health and nutrition services and education for
mothers and children, as well as educating young children and
high-risk pregnant and lactating women to equip them with skills to
help protect against the impact of climate change on WASH.
- Equip 50 health facilities with green sources of power and
energy, such as solar panels.
UNICEF and the Baxter International Foundation each bring unique
and relevant experience to the partnership. Every year, UNICEF
helps millions of families gain improved access to safe water and
sanitation. Baxter and the Baxter International Foundation actively
invest in community-focused water projects to improve access to
equitable and safe water and sanitation in water-stressed areas.
UNICEF and the Baxter International Foundation previously launched
a program to improve water security in La Guajira, Colombia in
2021. Through the programs in Egypt and Colombia, UNICEF and the
Baxter International Foundation aim to support United Nations
Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 6, focusing on Clean Water
and Sanitation.
About the Baxter International Foundation
Every day, Baxter and the Baxter International Foundation strive
to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people who depend
on our products, and in the communities where our employees live
and work. The Foundation helps advance Baxter’s mission to save and
sustain lives by partnering with organizations around the world to
increase access to healthcare for the underserved, develop the next
generation of innovators who will lead the way in advancing
healthcare and to create a positive, long-lasting impact in
communities globally. For more information, please visit our
Corporate Responsibility page.
Baxter is a registered trademark of Baxter International
Inc.
About UNICEF
The United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in more than
190 countries and territories to pursue a more equitable world for
every child. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any
other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and
immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education,
emergency relief and more.
UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the
American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children.
Together, we are working toward a world that upholds the rights of
all children and helps every child thrive. For more information
visit unicefusa.org.
UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or
service.
UNICEF’s work is funded entirely through the voluntary support
of millions of people around the world and our partners in
government, civil society and the private sector.
1 UNICEF USA: Clean and Safe Water Projects: UNICEF’s Mission.
https://www.unicefusa.org/what-unicef-does/childrens-health/water-sanitation/safe-water-projects#:~:text=Children%20under%20age%205%20are,children%20under%205%20years%20old.
2 UNICEF: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene:
https://www.unicef.org/egypt/water-sanitation-and-hygiene
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231128037771/en/
Emma Wierzbicki, (224) 948-5353 media@baxter.com
Ann Reinking Whitener, (212-922-2623)
areinking@unicefusa.org
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