SHIT SAFELY, LIVE HEALTHY - Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) – Matungulu and Masinga districts (EC grant funded).

Introduction

Plan Kenya, Machakos Programme Unit (PU) received a four year grant from the European Union to support implementation of community programs in water and sanitation. This is being carried out in two districts namely Masinga and Matungulu. One of the key expected outcomes is attainment of Open Defecation Free communities in the two districts through CLTS approach. To date, 56 villages have been triggered and 20 with a population of 15,250 persons have attained ODF (awaiting certification).

The Problem

In the two districts, poor access to adequate sanitation resulting from practice of open defecation has resulted in negative health impacts and diseases such as diarrhea and cholera, thus contributing to decline on economic life of families and education of children.

The action

CLTS training in the two districts was done in August 2011 for 36 participants drawn from Government officers from Masinga and Matungulu districts (22 Public health officers, 2 Education officers, 10 Plan and EC grant). The five day training included actual field triggering practice in six villages with high open defecation. To date, this team has triggered 56 villages which are at different stages of attaining ODF.

EC grant field officer demonstrating on shit-

water pollution during CLTS

triggering in one village, Masinga, Kenya

Achievements

56 villages have been triggered and 20 ODF villages are being certified. Participatory follow-up by CLTS committees, Ministry staff and EC grant staff has been on-going. Over 800 latrines have been completed with hand washing facilities. Sanitation related diseases in children and adults are expected to reduce with continued hygienic use of latrines. More triggering will continue in the next 2 years with a target of all villages in the two districts with over 103,500 persons.

Lessons learnt

There is need to have clear messages passed to villages by the community mobilisers prior to the triggering dates. In some villages triggered, some community members expected the Ministry of Public Health staff to also provide treatment services/mobile clinic during CLTS triggering.

In all the villages triggered, women outnumbered the men, though men are the household decision makers on household projects implementation (including latrine construction). Future mobilization should target more men participation.

Communities learn better when they visualize and participate in practical analysis of their situation. They have locally available solutions to address stoppage of open defecation problem.

Handwashing with soap or ash was a practice not common in most households but CLTS triggering sessions emphasized on this and the families are adopting this health practice.

Challenges

The prolonged drought and subsequent heavily rains slowed down pace of latrine construction by the families.

Moving forward

With the continuing improved safe water provision and after all households have constructed and use latrines, the communities are confident the diarrhea related diseases will be eliminated in their villages and schools.

Celebrate World Toilet Day 2012 for more awareness on CLTS and environmental sanitation.

Quotes

1) “Today we have learnt that we all have been eating and drinking our own shit”. Village elder from Syumbuni village remarked.

2) ‘’Oh! You mean shit can be calculated -16 Lorries! Do all these go to our water sources?’’- Beatrice from Kimanza village, Matungulu district.

3) ‘’We all shit in the morning when we wake up. We will construct latrines in two weeks and stop eating shit’’. One of us has vomited on seeing shit/food demonstration. – Mr. Musyoki participant during CLTS triggering in Kiwuini village, Masinga district

Compiled by: Martin Hinga, Programme Coordinator, Plan Kenya, Machakos PU