When the first phase of emergency relief work came to an end in early 1999, MSF began longer-term initiatives for improving sanitation and access to clean water. MSF has started a program to reduce waterborne diseases, improve understanding of health issues and increase emergency preparedness at the community level.
Health education focuses on water treatment, hygiene and preparing for floods.
This program will finish in April 2001. Another key area of activity is cholera preparedness. In the wake of a post-hurricane cholera outbreak in early 1999, MSF set up special cholera wards in three hospitals in the capital San Salvador. These facilities can be easily used again in the event of another major outbreak. Because clean, potable water is scarce, particularly in rural areas, MSF helped install equipment for producing chlorine solution used to purify water.