An integrated water, sanitation, and hygiene project in Vanuatu, World Vision's Tanna WASH project was completed at the end of 2016. Following the devastating impact of Cyclone Pam, which struck the isolated island nation of Vanuatu in 2015, the WASH project has played a vital role in rebuilding communities and improving the quality of life for residents of Tanna. In addition to AuCom's financial support of the initiative, members of the AuCom team were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit Tanna and experience first hand the difference that these projects make in the lives of the communities they benefit.

Upon competition, the project now provides access to improved water sources to 98% of the region's inhabitants. Sanitation and nutrition education has seen sickness, the number of young children who are underweight, and the prevalence of malnutrition in the community have decreased dramatically. These big improvements in nutrition, household access to water and sanitation, and improved hygiene and sanitation behaviours will continue to increase health and well being among communities in Tanna long after the project has come to a close.

World Vision has trained and equipped the Water Management Committees (WMCs) in the operation and maintenance of their water systems, all of whom have a Community Action Plan in place. World Vision has successfully handed over on-going responsibility for the water systems to the WMCs (with support from the Provincial Department of Rural Water).

Members of the community at the end of the project explain how hand washing practices have made a positive difference in their lives: “Since our grandparents, we lived a life where almost every week we had sickness and disease. Now, methods of hand washing have contributed to our health, as it prevents us from getting sick. Now we apply the saying, ‘prevention is better than cure’.”