A Model Clean Villages, Gedamawit Kebele
The lack of access to improved sanitation and the practice of open defecation have a negative significant health & other socio-economic impact on the households. It is clear that access to latrines in Ethiopia is still low. According to World Health Organization (WHO), latrine coverage in Ethiopia has increased to 63% in recent years, and the practice of open defecation (37%) result in a continuing disease burden and socio-economic crises. Hence, ORDA Ethiopia’s Johns Rig Wash Project, which is funded by Welt hunger Hilfe through VIVA CON AGUA, has been intervening in supplying safe water and in improving hygiene and sanitation practice in selected 5 woredas of Amhara region including Gozamen, Machakel, Debere-Elias, Aneded and Sinane woredas with a total allocated a budget of € 8.8 million to access safe water to 205 thousand beneficiaries and to provide hygiene and sanitation facilities to 280 thousand beneficiaries since 2016.
The Gedamawit Kebele in Sinan Woreda is one of the kebeles where the project has carried out effective personal and environmental hygiene. In particular, it has made a real difference by organizing users into groups of 30 and providing personal hygiene and sanitation training and a monthly discussion program among and by members. Residents of the kebele have purchased a water purification tulip to keep their environment clean and personal hygiene. They built improved toilets, showers, and sewer systems. The secret for this success is that the project trained users in hygiene and sanitation, and then by monitoring and rewarding those who perform better.
W/ro Mastawal Shite is married and has two children and is a resident of Gedamaity Kebele in Sinan Woreda. As part of the project work, she received training on environmental sanitation and personal hygiene. With her active participation, she led and trains 22 women. Twice a month, she trains her team with the knowledge she learned from the project and strives to make them all role models in hygiene. As a team leader, she built family toilets for both men and women. As a result, she said, there is no human waste in her area. She also built the men's and women's bathrooms. All members of the family wash their hands during crucial handwashing, in the morning, before meals, after meals, and after using the toilet. The family is now well. "I work in the front line. I have a men's and women's toilet and a shower. I bought a water purifier tulip. Now my whole family is healthy. Our environment is full of fresh air," she said.
W/ro Abay Sewnet is a kebele health extension worker. According to her, the project helped the kebele residents to build latrines, showers, and power-saving stoves.
ORDA Ethiopia John Rig Wash Project Manager, Aderaj Muluken, said 79 water facilities (5 deep wells, 71 shallow wells, and 3 springs’ developments) have been constructed in the woredas where the project is being implemented. More than 68 thousand beneficiaries have access to safe drinking water. As a result, safe drinking water coverage has been improved. In particular, the project has built and handed over 25 blocks of modern toilets to school community members and clinics to keep users clean. He also said that the construction of 56 model latrines in the kebele centers where farmers are being served has played a significant role in preventing open defecation. He said the sanitation & hygiene work of Gedamawit kebele is a role model in general and other woredas are coming and taking the experience. He further said that the project will work to expand the good experience.