“I have Healthy & Happy Family”- W/ro Birhan Belete

W/ro Birhan Belete is 35 years old women living in Yebokila Zuria Kebele of Gozamen Woreda, East Gojjam zone, Amhara region. She is married and has four children.

We meet W/ro Birhan in her home while we visit ORDA Ethiopia’s John’s Rig WaSH project hygiene and sanitation status of beneficiaries.

The project has been carrying out water facility construction and sanitation and hygiene activities in 5 woredas of East Gojam Zone (Gozamen, Machakel, Debre-Elias, Aneded and Sinan woredas). It has been Working to benefit 143,951 people from 20016 to 2023 with a budget of 8.8 million Euros obtained from the Welthungerhilfe, with the cooperation of the Ethiopian government and the community.

We have seen an improvement in W/ro Birhan’s living. She built an improved pit latrine, installed ‘M-Sato’ and hand washing jerican with faucet, clean and smartly arranged shelf, isolated kitchen with properly built smokeless stove, water filter tulip, safe liquid and dry waste disposal system in her home. In general, she fulfilled all hygiene and sanitation packages.

She told us sadly she was defecating at open field with all of her families before years. She was resistant to health extension workers and local government leaders who tried to advise her to construct and use a toilet.

‘’we faced many diseases and spent our time and money for health treatment. My children used to sick usually by diarrhea. We had polluted home environment”, she said.

After consecutive counseling and follow up given by John’s Rig WaSH Project and concerned government stakeholders, she is able to construct and use an improved pit latrine and other healthcare packages. Now, she has healthy family. She is happy and model to the village and started to teach her neighbors. The project awarded her as a model of the kebele.