South Sudan celebrated its first open defecation free village, Adiem, in Gogrial East county of Warrap State on 1st November 2012. The community of Adiem was supported in this feat by ACTED through the community led total sanitation (CLTS) methodology.
Open defecation is not only unsightly but it leads to disease. Water and food sources are easily contaminated by nearby defecation often due to the fact that flies go from the defecation to people’s food and spread diseases. Diarrhea is rife in the villages and is most commonly spread through contamination of water and/or food. It also represents the most significant cause of death among children under the age of five.
CLTS draws attention to the negative impacts of open defecation, such as inherent health issues, in order to encourage independent construction of locally appropriate latrines. Prior to August 2012, despite the presence of latrines across the country and the numerous health risks related to open defecation, the majority of people living in villages across South Sudan continued to defecate in the open. Among the reasons cited for not using the available latrines were the bad smell as well as the fact that is it generally believed that latrines spread diseases, even sexually transmitted diseases. The persistence of these misconceptions and general lack of will to use the latrines among the community, suggested that the simple construction of latrines was not in fact the answer to open defecation, even when accompanied with hygiene awareness raising campaigns.
Women at the heart of success in Adiem
Adiem was one of three villages selected for CLTS programming in Warrap State by ACTED at the beginning of 2012. The CLTS methodology relies very heavily on community leadership participation and begins with a transect walk of the village, during which ACTED community mobilisers point out defecation on the side of the road, in the grass, behind houses and in the general vicinity. The community mobilisers then draw a map of the village. All the participants’ houses are located on the map and they then point to the place where they go to defecate. This exercise reveals the close proximity to which families live to the defecation. ACTED staff then describe the health risks posed by open defecation, particularly when so close to houses. Once the community is fully aware of the risks posed by open defecation, ACTED provides technical advice and oversight for locally appropriate latrine construction.
It was the women of this village who acted as the real driving force behind this development. By March 2012, the women of Adiem had constructed 63 home-made household latrines, enough for every household in the village. Their sense of achievement was evident during the day’s celebrations, as they waved the certificates that they were awarded for having built these latrines, high in the air.
ACTED water and sanitation teams report that neighbouring villages are already beginning to construct household latrines on their own initiative. UNICEF also reports five additional villages that have been verified as open defecation free in both Warrap and Western Equatoria states. With the support of Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, ACTED plans to continue conducting CLTS in the neighbouring villages to create a wave effect across the country.
