World Connect

Kedougou Health Center Latrine Project

Year: 2015

Country: Senegal

Project Status: Funded

Impact Sector: Health

Project Investment: $3,400.03

Project Launch: 6-30-16

The Kedougou District Health Center provides health services to more than 70,000 people. This project aims to improve sanitation at the Health Center by installing new toilets. In addition to new toilets, the center’s bathrooms will be equipped with sinks and soap, allowing patients and health professionals to wash their hands and reduce the potential for disease spread. Sanitation agents will be trained and employed to routinely clean and maintain the health center’s toilets, and a community-wide campaign will be launched to sensitize the community about latrines, hand washing, and proper sanitation.

Project Update: 11-10-15

Before this project, the existing toilets at the health center were poorly managed and nonfunctional. Now, the health center has 8 new latrines and access to clean water. The district health center staff have done several broadcasts on local radio stations about the importance of sanitation and hygiene, and have been educating the community about the new latrines. Additionally, local NGO’s are very impressed with the health center’s dedication to improving sanitation within the community and are interested in partnering on future projects.

Final Report: 6-30-16

While a major setback nearly derailed plans to construct the 20 proposed restrooms, in the end, the community was able to forge ahead to construct 8, a huge improvement and a success. There are now clean, private, culturally acceptable restrooms with guaranteed running water at the health center that previously did not exist before. Staff, patients, and visitors will not need to risk contracting secondary infections at the health center when seeking attention and long-term adherence to new cleaning and personal habits will reduce diarrheal disease in the area. Daily rounds are now made by doctors and health staff instructing the patients and visitors on proper use of the restrooms and the importance of good hygiene and sanitation practices.