Washing hands fights deforestation: the Domino Effect in Gadaisu

Clean hands protect rainforest.

How hygiene is transforming rainforest communities and protecting the environment

What do handwashing stations have to do with saving rainforests? Quite a lot, actually. In the lush rainforest of Papua New Guinea (PNG), simple hygiene solutions are creating powerful ripple effects that improve lives, protect the environment, and safeguard the future of vital rainforests.

RWSSP staff, Solans Harold, checking a water tap at Fife Bay Health Centre.

The Domino Effect of Clean Hands

It all starts with a basic idea: clean hands lead to healthier people.

Here’s how it works:

Clean hands mean fewer illnesses.
Fewer illnesses mean stronger, more resilient communities.
Stronger communities make fewer expensive trips to medical centres.
With more financial security, there’s less pressure to sell rainforest land.
And with less rainforest sold, we protect critical ecosystems for the future.

Washing hands fights deforestation. Four handwashing stations sit on tables under a corrugated roof, in a small clearing of rainforest.

Handwashing stations in Papua New Guinea surrounded by rainforest.

This seemingly simple concept is transforming communities like Gadaisu and Sololo, where Cool Earth has partnered with local organisations to implement Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) programmes.

Success in Action

Decreasing Health Centre Visits

Our WaSH programme is already making a measurable impact. Visits to health centres in Milne Bay province have decreased, thanks to the installation of water tanks, handwashing stations, and VIP (ventilated improved pit) toilets.

87% of water tanks constructed in Gadaisu, and 81% in Sololo are now operational.
62% of VIP toilets in Sololo and 52% in Gadaisu have been completed.
Communities report 58% more handwashing facilities in Wabumari since the project began.

Empowered Communities

88 mothers have pledged to continue supporting handwashing campaigns.
223 people attended celebrations where key performance indicators were shared, and awards recognized community efforts.
Training for 18 school leaders in Gadaisu and Silosilo has led to WaSH programmes in local schools, improving hygiene education for children.

A Healthier Rainforest, One Step at a Time

Since 2022, our WaSH project has:

Reduced waterborne illnesses like diarrhoea and dehydration.
Decreased cases of respiratory diseases in children.
Improved community resilience by lowering healthcare burdens.

As Regina, our Papua New Guinea Country Manager, explains:
“If the communities that live alongside the rainforest go, the rainforest will too. The health of rainforest communities is directly tied to the health of the rainforest.”

Join the Movement

From providing clean water to building sustainable sanitation solutions, Cool Earth’s WaSH programme is creating a future where healthy communities and healthy rainforests go hand in hand.

Want to help? With your support, we can keep the ripple effect going.