Community Mobilization to Improving Sanitation and Installations of Latrines

Year: 2014
Country: Senegal
Project Status: Funded
Impact Sector: Health
Project Investment: $6,348.80

Project Launch:

Keur Katim Diama is a small agricultural-based community with approximately 1000 people. The village is located 75 kilometers south from the regional city of Kaolack and just 9 kilometers from the Gambian border. The community lacks proper sanitation protocols. A recent survey revealed that the average community member goes to the fields to defecate and only about 2/5 of the community owns a latrine, a majority of which are poorly constructed and ruined. Out of the 51 households surveyed, none of them reported using soap in the following areas: washing hands before feeding children, washing hands after cleaning their child, and washing hands before eating

 

This project will help improve santiation in Keur Katim Diama. 400 participating mothers will be trained in water and sanitation hygiene practices through WASH training sessions. Topics will include: how to correctly wash their hands; how to build a handwashing station, and how to care for latrines. This project will build 65 new latrines and 65 handwashing stations, helping to promote sanitation within the community.

 

Project Update

The project expanded into three more villages, resulting in a total of 72 latrines and handwashing stations built. Six community health workers were trained on basic WASH teaching techniques, tippy-tap construction, and proper latrine care. They traveled to ten various villages, where they provided mothers and children with health and sanitation workshops, helping to increase access to education and sanitation techniques to over 400 participants.

Final Report: 3/22/2017

87 improved latrines were constructed across five villages. This has greatly reduced the instances of open defecation resulting in lower rates of diarrheal disease in the most vulnerable population, children under 5 years old. The project not only allowed for the construction of 87 latrines, but the community was able to train six community health workers from the five villages affected by the project on clean water, sanitation and hygiene topics. These trained health workers then went out into their communities and held outreach events educating people on the topics covered in their training. Additionally, two metal hand washing stations were constructed -- one installed in the primary school and the other at a health hut -- to promote proper hand washing.

 

Testimonials

"Leading this project has not only allowed me the opportunity to enhance my project management, design, and teaching skills, but also opened my eyes to the real impact that access to sanitary facilities, that we in the United States take for granted, can have on one's life. Leading this project, through its ups and downs, has given me greater confidence in my ability to tackle setbacks head-on and to work together with community members to address pressing issues and come to a sustainable solution." -- Ashley, Peace Corps Volunteer

"Before this project came to our village, people didn't have access to sanitary latrines. Close to 50 people were sharing one unimproved latrine. Conditions were unsanitary, the latrines were not stable, and it was not safe. People were going out into the fields, during the day and alone at night, and openly defecating. People working in the fields were in contact with fecal matter and germs that caused sickness." -- Lahine, Project Leader

"We are very happy with the project. Before we had to go into the fields to defecate. Kids were getting sick all the time with diarrhea. Now we have a latrine and a Tippy Tap (hand washing station) and everyone washes their hands after going to the latrine and before eating. It is much better and kids aren't getting sick as much anymore. Latrines are very important and we are very happy to have one now. Thank you." -- Aissatou, Project Participant

"Latrines have so much importance. Before we had the latrine we had to go out into the bush to defecate. It wasn't safe and clean. Now we have a latrine here and everyone in the family uses it. The kids don't have to go into the bush at night to defecate. And after going to the latrine we wash our hands with soap to kill the germs." -- Hoja, Project Participant

"It has been very beneficial to learn why it is important to wash your hands and how to protect my daughter from getting sick." -- Fatou, Project Participant 

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