Community Health Volunteers Champion the Uptake of Improved Sanitation Facilities

A sustained effort to construct pit latrines in all households has seen a major reduction in the spread of sanitation related diseases, and by 2018, Kitui County was declared Open Defecation Free.

Ruth Kiema   37, lives with her mother (Breta), 3 children and 2 grandchildren in Kasevi Village Kitui East County.  Ruth makes a living out of doing casual jobs.  “Before constructing an improved toilet, we used to have snakes hide in the old toilet. This made it   unsafe for my family to use especially   for my children and grandchildren.   

Her children and grandchildren used to defecate in the bushes and this would make the children get diarrhoea related diseases that were not only expensive to treat but also made the children miss school days.  

Ruth learned of the FINISH latrine model through a Community Health Volunteer (CHV), Doris Mwengi , who passionately persuaded her to construct a toilet and a bathroom.  Doris got to know of Ruth’s situation while mapping homes that did not have improved toilets.

The training on proper toilet construction was done by FINISH Ink which introduced market-based sanitation through different toilet models.

“We used to tell people bora uwe na choo (it is okay to just have a toilet),” Doris says. But with time, we persuaded them to move from bora choo (any latrine) to choo bora (an improved toilet).

 “When Doris visited my home, she educated me on the importance of having an improved toilet and a hand washing facility.  ” Ruth says.

Ruth is now a proud owner of a double pit latrine and cannot contain her happiness. Her children can use the toilet without fear. She now knows open defecation increases the risk of spreading diseases.

The latrines are constructed using locally available material by FINISH INK trained artisans.  Using locally available material, makes it affordable for the households.

Ruth says that this latrine means a lot to her. “This toilet has given me a sense of pride. It has not only provided privacy but also safety, in addition, my children no longer suffer diarrhoea diseases since we have now improved our hygiene status.

With a Sato pan installed in her toilet, Ruth says the children feel safe using the toilet to relieve themselves.

Ruth now knows that poor hygiene practises can impact negatively and is costly. With proper sanitation, her family can not only save on medical expenses but also have a sense of belonging. The toilet has given Ruth the benefit of safety, dignity and good health.