21/11/2024
World toilet Day 2024
Toilets - A Place for Peace
Each year on November 19 brings attention to the lack of toilets for billions of people globally. It encourages everyone to learn and spread the word about how proper toilets and sanitation can save lives.
World Toilet Day, observed annually on November 19th, sheds light on the critical importance of sanitation. While sanitation is a universal human right, 2 billion people still lack basic hygiene services, including 653 million with no facility at all. (WHO/UNICEF, 2023).
Vision Africa Regional Network (VAREN) – Zambia signed a program Cooperation Agreement with UNICEF – Zambia to support 7 provinces (Luapula, Northern, Muchinga, Central, and Lusaka, Southern and Eastern targeting 31 districts with WASH Capacity building for sustainable wash services. Among the 31 districts VAREN is implementing CLTS in three districts, Mwansabombwe, Mwense and Chifunabuli.
Everyone deserves safe and affordable access to sanitation across all aspects of life – at home, school, work, and public places. A private, hygienic, and culturally acceptable toilet is essential for maintaining human dignity and well-being.
Despite these efforts, we as a society are seriously off track to achieve safely managed sanitation for all by 2030 (as outlined in UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6). This lack of progress has far-reaching consequences, affecting not only sanitation but also nutrition, health, gender equality, education, sustainability, and environmental cleanliness.
Lessons from the field
Sanitation approaches at community level need to redesign especially the CLTS were billions of money being spent but achieving less especially sustaining the gains.
Hardware supply and financing: Latrines built as a result of CLTS were often of poor quality, adversely affecting the sustainability of CLTS outcomes. Access to durable materials, technical support, and affordability were key obstacles the case for Chifunabuli and Mwense districts.
• Chiefs involvement and Headpersons
Consider giving the Chief and Headmen adequate information about the project, its goals, the benefits to the community and what is expected from them to do to achieve the goal. The community listens to their Chiefs and headpersons hence the acceptance level is high.
• Use indigenous local language
Use explicit indigenous or local terms to create shame and disgust, and raise awareness of the benefits of stopping Open Defecation by every household.
• Children’s involvement in behavioral change Communication
In schools, there is need to capitalize in behavioral change through repeated sanitation and hygiene messages and encourage formation of school WASH clubs.
• Community sanctions
The community that has sanctions in place which have been enacted by the Chief on Sanitation and Hygiene are more organized and united. The community is also well informed about these suctions conveyed to them through the village headpersons. Due to the fear of these punishment, the community makes sure that Sanitation and Hygiene is upheld and pays attention/follows the orders given to them by the CCs and SAGs
• Consider the context
CLTS is most effective in small, remote, cohesive villages with strong local leadership. However, external support such as subsidies or a little help may be necessary in some contexts.
Ministry of health, Education and local authority has not priorities this part and government have less consideration to sustain the behavior change communications at household levels. The ministry of Health and Ministry of Local government and housing are more reactive to sanitation than being proactive. When there’s an outbreak of Cholera the ministries becomes reactive and afterward all things becomes on a standstill.
The Case for Chifunali and Mwense district were VAREN is implementing CLTS communities responds to sanitation just to fear the punishment while urban sanitation which being managed by the private sector is derived by dignity and prestige.
On this year World Toilet Day, let’s recognize that toilets are more than mere facilities – they are places for progress, dignity, and transformation. By prioritizing sanitation, we create a fairer, healthier, and more peaceful world for all, especially women and girls. We need to consider strengthen the Community Heath Agents at heath facilities rather than subjecting them to indoor operation.
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