IMPROVING SANITATION AND WATER QUALITY IN LOKO TOWN INTRODUCTION The Loko Town area Figure: 001 Struggle for Pipe borne water in Loko Town This document is about raising awareness for the proper use of toilet and avoiding water contamination by proper planning and sealing of water sources in the Loko Town section of the New England community. New England is situated in the western area of Freetown, which is mountainous. Loko Town is an impoverished slum as compared to the other areas. Indicators such as infant mortality, under-five mortality remain significantly high. Furthermore, it is stated in the National Human Resource for Health (HRH) Strategic Plan that Life expectancy at birth for male/female is 48/50 years respectively. Consequently, it is evident that most of the diseases are preventable and most deaths are attributed to malaria, diarrhoea, nutritional deficiencies etc. therefor more work is needed to be done in order to improve the high rate of National indicators which amongst others is the worst in the community. The focus is on this community because it is one of the congested slum areas in Freetown that suffered so much during the 2012 cholera outbreak, which was triggered by heavy downpour of rainfall and flooding, combined with poor hygiene practices, unsafe water sources and ineffective waste management. It is the aim of Government to help provide one toilet for every household and distribute water points so that each household has access to a protected water supply. This will amount to a total of approximately 500 latrines and 250 protected water points to be constructed before the end of 2015 in the New England Ville community. This also is a huge task that requires dedication by all those involved in the proper use of toilets, their siting at a safe distance from water sources, covering and sealing them are important actions to reduce the threat of disease. 1
SAFE WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE ARE ESSENTIAL Human excreta always contain large numbers of germs and pathogens, which can cause a range of diseases including diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and can transmit worms. When there is open defecation, flies feed on the excreta and can carry small amounts of that excreta away on their bodies and feet, contaminating our food and spreading diseases. When toilets are constructed close to water points they can contaminate the water and spread of disease as well. Hygiene practices such as hand washing with soap and safe handling and storage of water are also critical, and such awareness has not been raised in the New England Ville community. When water is handled with dirty hands or carried in dirty containers it can spread diseases. SITUATION ANALYSIS The population of Loko Town as projected from the last house to house head count by local authorities during the last general election was estimated to be around five thousand. The population is predominantly from rural areas. Diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery have a huge negative impact on the community, but they can be prevented by improving water, sanitation and hygiene practices. In September 2012, the outbreak of cholera in Sierra Leone caused the deaths of 392 people. It is the country's worst outbreak of cholera in 15 years and even in the whole continent in that year. The outbreak also affected Guinea which shares a reservoir near the coast. Heavy rainfall, flooding, combined with poor hygiene practices, unsafe water sources and infective waste management were key factors in the spread of the outbreak. According to a local chief in the community, poor sanitation is Figure: 002 unsafe water source in Loko Town currently the cause of at least 10% deaths of children under five every year in Loko Town. Pit toilets that easily drain directly into sources of water are uncountable in the community and more than 30% of the people defecate in the 2
open, and this destroys and eats deep into the total fabric of sanitation in this community. Additionally the distance from potential sources of contamination such as badly constructed toilets, pig pens, refuse disposing site, deeps in the ground full of sewages deposited from close by, and the unhealthy nature of the total environment where flies have made their permanent home of breeding, exist in Loko Town. The location of the water point as you can see from the picture below is very close. This must STOP! 3 Fig. 003: The main water collecting source just below three toilet doors in Loko Town. The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) lacks the financial resources and infrastructure to deliver adequate health services to the population even in accessible areas. Partly due to the nine-year civil war and hostilities in May 2000, water and sanitation systems were damaged and have not been rebuilt properly leaving approximately 48% of Sierra Leoneans without access to clean and purified water to drink, according to the Sierra Leone Demographic health report 2013. Poor health care system has not helped to save the situation. 60% of people living in the Western Rural and Urban district live in congested slum areas and on every occasion of an outbreak. Loko Town is among the slum areas that suffers the most causality. United Nations evidence figure indicates that there is only one doctor per 34,744 people in Sierra Leone according to the Health Sector Strategic Group Meeting report 2011. OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES Given the importance of safe water, sanitation and hygiene, it is the aim of this document to provide the necessary information and sensitization for every household in the community as well as to water and sanitation service providers. This will contribute to action so that water points are easily accessed, safe and protected and the quality of water extracted from unprotected wells surrounded by poor toilet construction. For a healthy community, safe drainage and water treatment are also essential. A good number of community players are proposing a project to overcome the challenges of water, sanitation and hygiene. If actualised, this work could also benefit other badly needing and affected areas.
Mobilizing community actors efficiently and durably to address the main determinants of ensuring proper use of toilet and discourage water contamination will go a long way to improving the lives of people living in this community. Water quality and sanitary survey will be a meaningful method of ensuring an overall improvement in community water supplies especially those derived from boreholes, wells and springs. There should be a sanitary survey on on-site inspection of water supply system and particular attention paid to the source of contamination. There are several actions that can be taken to protect water sources from fecal contamination. Firstly, the distance of a water point should be 30 metres or more from the toilet. Secondly, the water source should be on raised ground because lower grounds which may become swampy are more prone to contamination. Thirdly, the depth of the water when it is very close to the surface is subject to greater chances of contamination from the surrounding than water which lies more deeply in the ground which can be easily filtered by the soil. Fourthly, wells or boreholes should be properly, covered and sealed (as in the case of a hand pump). Finally, the type of waste water disposal systems must be adequate and well away from the water points. With such innovations, the water is unlikely to be contaminated either from the underground or from the surface. In one year, these proposed steps to improve on the proper use of toilets and avoid water contamination in the New England Ville community could be implemented as part of the proposed project. The gathering of information for the National Health Sector Strategic Plan would contribute in an equitable health service delivery. AUTHOR: MOHAMED K. SUNDIFU ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SANITATION FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE DATE: 14TH JUNE 2014 4
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