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A village in Niger contributes to positive change
The United Nations states that 1,000 children die every day worldwide from diseases that could be easily prevented by improving hygiene and sanitation. Improved access to hygiene and sanitation is crucial to ensure life and enhance health and strength—specially in children—in order for them to reach their full potential.
Several years ago, the village of Tilla in Niger's Zinder region made hygiene and sanitation a priority, starting by banning open defecation. Today, a sanitation committee is in charge of galvanizing and promoting the village's overall health and cleanliness, making specific members responsible for different priorities. Each family now has a functional and well-maintained latrine (the village has 37 traditional latrines for 30 households). All the heads of households built latrines with locally available materials, such as bricks and clay dried in the sun, called banco.
The reasons for this groundbreaking success is true social cohesion. Village leaders—including civil servants, the village chief, and the local imam—and families in the community came together to develop a community-led total sanitation strategy.
Tilla has been recognized by many in the region, and 16 additional villages have embraced the community-led total sanitation approach.
When a community works together to tackle a common challenge, health, nutrition, and pride in their home are all positively affected.
April 28, 2017