One Household One Latrine: Many Communities Engage in Open Defecation


Most communities across the country continue to practice open defecation, a behavior that promote the spread of communicable diseases like cholera and typhoid.
 
The use of Public latrines which are often in deplorable state have also been identified as a bane to achieving community led total sanitation.
 
With the help of UNICEF and the Environmental Health directorates across the country, some communities are gradually embracing the concept of one household one latrine. 

This is a measure aimed at curbing open defecation and discouraging the sharing of public latrines thereby reducing the spread of feaces related diseases.
 
One such community where residents are shifting from defecating openly to owning household latrines and ensuring a clean environment is Vorsakofe in the Akatsi North District of the Volta Region. 

GBC’s Correspondent Dominic Hlordzi was at Vorsakofe and reports that the national target of ensuring Open Defecation Free Ghana by 2020 could be attained if every community learns from the people of Vorsakofe. 

Defecating in the bush and the use of unkempt, flies and maggot infested, disease distributing public latrine have been the practice of the people of Vorsakofe in Akatsi North District. 

With a concerted effort by Environmental Health officers and cooperation from residents the village is on the verge of being declared open defecation free. 

With the use of simple natural materials each household can boast of a latrine built with mud and roofed with thatch that have simple water dispenser or gallons nearby for the washing of hands after using the latrines. 
Take a listen to the report filed by Dominic Hlordzi.

GBC