[미국] 자일럼 UNICEF와 인도 어린이 돕는다
물‧위생 및 위생 의식에 대한 접근성 개선
UN 지속가능한 개발 목표 달설 기여

현재 인도 어린이 25%는 물부족으로 인한 취약성을 경험하고 있다. 또 인도의 학교 중에는 손을 씻을 수 있는 위생시설 역시 부족한 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 현상은 농촌지역 및 미취학아동 사이에서 더욱 극명하게 드러난다. 3명중 1명은 기본적인 물 서비스에 접근할 수 없으며 농촌지역 26% 이상의 아이들이 화장실과 같은 위생시설을 이용하지 못하는 것으로 나타났다.

글로벌 물기술 기업 자일럼(Xylem)은 사회공헌활동 ‘자일럼 워터마크(Xylem Watermark)’를 통해 물 위기에 취약한 인도 사회에 안전한 수자원 공급을 위해 노력하고 있다. 자일럼은 유엔아동기금(UNICEF)과 협력을 바탕으로 인도 15개 주와 192개 지역을 중심 기술지원 제공 및 위생시설 건설, 위생관리 강화에 노력을 기울이고 있다. 또 자일럼 워터마크 기금을 통해 학교에 식수시설을 완비하고 위생 환경을 개선하는 유니세프 워시 인 스쿨(WASH in school) 및 프리-스쿨 프로그램(pre-school program)으로 더 많은 아이들에게 다가갈 수 있도록 있도록 하고 있다.

오스틴 알렉산더(Austin Alexander) 자일럼 지속가능성 담당 부사장은 “안전한 물과 위생 시설에 대한 가용성과 접근은 수백만 인도인의 건강과 웰빙을 개선하는 데 필수적”이라며 “전 세계 물문제를 해결하기 위한 작업의 일환으로 모든 사람을 위한 물‧위생 접근이라는 UN 지속가능한 개발 목표를 향한 진전을 가속화하도록 지원하게 된 것을 기쁘게 생각한다”고 밝혔다.

인도 유니세프는 WASH 프로그램이 농촌 등 시골학교 내 위생시설을 늘리는 데 도움이 될 것을 예상하는 한편 인도중앙정부에서 미취학아동 등 어린이를 대상으로 WASH 표준을 시행하도록 지원하도록 돕고 있다.

한편 자일럼은 작년 코로나19로 인한 감염병의 확산을 예방하고자 손 씻기 및 개인 위생 관행을 장려하는 유니세프 코로나19 긴급구호 지원에 나선 바 있다. 이러한 글로벌 협력은 코로나19 예방 조치에 대한 메시지를 통해 330만 명 이상의 사람들에게 성공적으로 도달했으며 약11만7천 명 이상이 WASH 공급품의 혜택을 받은 것으로 나타났다.

[원문보기]

Xylem Partners with UNICEF to Create a Brighter Future for 3.4 Million Children in India’s Most Vulnerable Communities

RYE BROOK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Xylem Watermark, the corporate social responsibility program of global water technology company Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL), aims to reach over 3.4 million children by end of 2023 through its support of UNICEF, the world’s leading organization for children. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the partnership seeks to improve awareness of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in India’s most vulnerable communities, with a focus on strengthening WASH protocols in schools and pre-schools, known as anganwadi centers.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005788/en/

Currently, 25% of children in India experience high water vulnerability, and half of all schools lack adequate hand washing facilities.1 Water poverty is worse in rural communities and among pre-school children, where one in every three children lack access to a basic water service and more than a quarter of children (26%) are without toilet facilities. UNICEF’s WASH program, formed in partnership with the Indian government, centers on 15 states and 192 districts. The program provides technical support to the government and mobilizes partners to build WASH facilities and strengthen hygiene practices, which are inherently linked to child growth, development, school attendance and learning outcomes. Xylem Watermark’s funding will enable UNICEF to reach more children through their WASH in schools and pre-schools program, ultimately preventing disease and supporting long-term behavioral change.

“Availability and access to safe water and sanitation is fundamental to improving the health and well-being of millions of Indians,” said Austin Alexander, Vice President of Sustainability and Social Impact at Xylem. “As part of our work to solve water challenges around the world, we are pleased to support UNICEF in India to accelerate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals of water and sanitation access for all. In doing so, we hope to create a brighter future for communities across India.”

“We are proud to be associated with this remarkable program to help make India water-secure," said Nitin Bhate, Managing Director of Xylem India. "This builds on Xylem’s work to provide our customers across India with innovative solutions to water challenges, and on our broader efforts to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation for vulnerable communities through Xylem Watermark.”

UNICEF’s WASH interventions in 2021-2023 are expected to help increase the provision of gender-sensitive WASH facilities in rural schools. The program will also support the government in implementing WASH standards in pre-schools and increase the number of UNICEF-supported states with COVID-19 sensitive WASH program plans, and menstrual health and hygiene action plans.

"We’re excited to partner with Xylem Watermark who will be investing in improving services and practices that fulfill a child's right to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), notably in their learning environment, more so when it’s crucial to bring them back to schools safely amid COVID-19,” said Nicolas Osbert, Chief of WASH at UNICEF India. “UNICEF remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring equitable access of WASH through cost-effective interventions within 45,000+ schools across India. Not only could this partnership benefit more than 3 million children, but it contributes to achieving the global SDG-6, where the private sector’s contribution is pivotal."

In 2020, Xylem committed to supporting UNICEF’s COVID-19 relief efforts, helping to reduce human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 by promoting handwashing and personal hygiene practices. The global collaboration was successful in reaching over 3.3 million people with messaging on COVID-19 prevention measures, with over 117,000 benefitting from critical WASH supplies. Additional support included providing healthcare workers with personal protective equipment and training on infection prevention and control measures, and the development of a knowledge management hub for global WASH practitioners.

With UNICEF’s work in 190 countries and territories, the expanded partnership will continue to contribute to achieving Xylem’s 2025 sustainability goals, including commitments to education and disaster-response, and progress towards SDG 6. For more information on UNICEF India and its programs, visit here.

[출처 = Xylem(https://www.xylem.com/en-us/about-xylem/newsroom/press-releases/xylem-partners-with-unicef-to-create-a-brighter-future-for-3.4-million-children-in-indias-most-vulnerable-communities/ 2021년 12월 14일자 보도자료)