Enhancing Health

Improving community health through the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene education

Enhancing Community Health

Good health and wellbeing is one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Promoting a healthy community is one of the most important ways to reduce poverty and inequality, helping communities to thrive.

One of the main reasons for poor health in Karen communities is through lack of access to adequate clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities. Around 40% of the population in Mae Hong Son lack access to clean drinking water and adequate waste disposal making. This makes them vulnerable to many diseases including diarrhea, typhoid, stomach ulcers and parasitic worms. Not only do these cause short-term health problems but they can also cause long-term chronic complications which have lasting impacts on health, education and livelihoods outcomes, helping continue the cycle of poverty.

The Karen Hilltribes Trust (KHT) is one of the few organisations working in this region, reaching out to the poorest and most isolated communities Mae Hong Son. We are dedicated to working towards good health and wellbeing. All our projects are coordinated in cooperation with every village we work in to ensure long-term sustainability and local ownership. Our current health project is WASH – Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Read more about our WASH project below.

So far, our health projects have provided 55,643 Karen people with improved WASH conditions through installing over 200 water systems and building or repairing 3,150 latrines!

“When we collected water from the river it would be dirty, so we would have to wait until the dirt settled at the bottom. And then we would have to drink the water with the dirt in it.”

“When we collected water from the river it would be dirty, so we would have to wait until the dirt settled at the bottom. And then we would have to drink the water with the dirt in it.”

– Kudi, Villager from Huai Koo Pa

Current Projects

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

We work with Karen communities to address these critical health issues by installing innovative gravity-fed clean water systems, building and repairing sanitation units and providing hygiene education sessions.

Click the link below to read more about our WASH projects!

Read more!
Get Involved!

Get Involved!

Feel inspired to get involved?

There are many ways you can support our work: Become a monthly donor, fundraise to one of our projects but also volunteer!

As a water volunteer you help increase access to cleaner water for Karen communities in Mae Hong Son, helping to improve their health.

To find out more on how you can get involved, click on the links below

Volunteer on a Water Project