Ethiopian government working to improve access to clean toilets, safe water for people living with HIV

PlusNews examines how a lack of access to clean toilets, safe drinking water, and "information on the prevention of common opportunistic infections means many Ethiopians living with HIV continue to contract easily preventable diseases." The news service writes, "According to the [non-governmental organization (NGO)] Wateraid, people living with HIV are often unable to access community water sources or latrines because of stigma and discrimination." Following calls from experts for the nation to address water and sanitation issues related to HIV care and treatment programs, the Ethiopian government "has laid out ambitious plans for water, sanitation and hygiene through its Universal Access Plan II, which seeks to reach 98.5 percent of its population with access to safe water and 100 percent with access to sanitation by 2015" and "is also drafting a document called 'Guidelines to Integrate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene into HIV Programmes,' which lays the groundwork for incorporating safe water, sanitation and hygiene practices into all HIV care services being delivered at all levels," PlusNews reports (8/27).