Increase access to adequate latrines in communities

Proper sanitation facilities (toilets and latrines) promote health because they allow people to dispose their waste appropriately. Throughout the developing world, many people do not have access to suitable sanitation facilities, resulting in improper waste disposal. Absence of basic sanitation facilities result an unhealthy environment contaminated by human waste. Without proper sanitation facilities, waste from infected individuals can contaminate a community's land and water, increasing the risk of infection for other individuals. Proper waste disposal can slow the infection cycle of many disease-causing agents since the improper waste disposal contribute to the spread of many diseases/conditions that can cause widespread illness and death. Without proper sanitation facilities, people often have no choice but to live in and drink water from an environment contaminated with waste from infected individuals, thereby putting themselves at risk for future infection. Inadequate waste disposal drives the infection cycle of many agents that can be spread through contaminated soil, food, water, and insects such as flies. Often poor or marginalized communities are the most exposed to the consequences of inadequate sanitation due to the lack waste disposal facilities. In Rwanda about 4.5 million don’t have access to adequate sanitation and 600 children under five die every year from diarrhea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation in Rwanda.

What we contribute to address this issue?

To overcome issues related to poor sanitation, improper sanitation facilities and inadequate human excreta disposal, Hand in Hand for Development trains communities and youth groups on micro flush toilet construction. Micro flush toilet is an off-grid, sustainable, environmentally friendly, low cost, odor- and fly-free toilet that reuses the small amount (1 cup) of grey water from a previous user’s hand wash to isolate waste and flush the toilet. In the Micro flush toilet, a user’s flush of waste directly falls into a filter-digester where the solids and liquids are rapidly separated. The solids are composted in an aerobic process enhanced by simple earthworms (e-fetida) found everywhere in the world. The small filtrate volume is processed naturally in a soak hole. There is no dislodging of sludge or transportation to a waste processing plant. Every 2 years, the rear cover is removed and organically rich compost is harvested for use in agriculture.

What we expect from our contribution

⦁ Access to proper sanitation facilities in communities
⦁ Prevention of diseases related to lack of proper sanitation facilities
⦁ End the open defecation practice in communities