Latrine, a Happy Place?!

Monday, September 24, 2018

A typical rural household in Ethiopia has a sanitation facility very close to the bare minimum. But even with that, it’s not a fun place to be around for more than few minutes. Nigussie Refera, 48 and a father of eight seems to have defied that in the small village of Weldo Telfam, Wonchi district in Oromia.

“Toilets are seen as the last place you would want to stay because they’re usually dirty and unsafe for health. That’s the attitude I wanted to break in my house and among neighbors,” he says.

A stranger to his house will be greeted by the blue painted exteriors with flower sketches of the neatly kept latrine at the back and a hand washing basin by the side.

Nigussie is among the heads of households in the village who constructed his own improved latrine using the recommended steps and technologies by community health workers and World Vision staff in that locality. The latrine is dug down eight feet and it is strongly interlaced with woods and concrete.

One of the latest inputs introduced in that village is use of concrete slabs that are produced by a youth group who were unemployed. Nigussie and some of his neighbors have bought each slab for 650 Birr (about 23 USD).

“At first I thought the price of the slabs was expensive but compared to what my children benefited from having a well-constructed latrine in terms of heath, I was convinced of its worth,” Nigussie states.

Seena, 6, the youngest of Nigussie’s daughters who used to have episodes of diarrhea frequently is now happier and healthier.

“We believed that it was children’s teething that causes the diarrhea and never thought of our latrine of poor state as a cause for diarrhea and poor health. But the information given to us about latrines opened our eyes,” Nigussie notes.

Seena was happy to demonstrate hand washing after toilet and speak the joy of having a clean and well-kept latrine.  “It’s a happy place now. There’s a picture of a flower and I tell my friends all about it. I’m not afraid falling as in the previous latrine that was close to collapse,” she says in fraction of sentences.

“Even my pregnant wife now looks forward to spending some time in the latrine as I posted pictures of beautiful children inside”, Nigussie Jokes.

Nigussie Refera, 48, poses for a picture with his youngest and oldest daughters at nearby his neatly constructed and well painted latrine

The awareness about sanitation and hygiene in Wonchi District is quite significant. Open defecation has been abandoned and improved latrines and showers are becoming the norm. Many households attribute this shift in awareness and actions to the massive mobilization and education provided by World Vision and health extension workers of the local government.

“The visible change in this village is the fruit of the staff of World Vision who worked tirelessly in this district in water and sanitation,” said Nebso Kumela, Focal Person for WASH at the Wonchi District Government Office.

“Poor awareness is really a curse for us and our children, World Vision shined light in this village,” said Nigussie.  

 

Story By Yosef Tiruneh

WASH Reports and Communications Coordinator