Until last year, Sheuly Begum had to wait until nightfall before she could use the loo. People in her village, Terorosia in bangladesh, went where they could. Sanitation issues threatened the health of everyone, including Sheuly’s children. But then Oxfam Unwrapped arrived with 154 latrines and hygiene training.
Building toilets was part of a wider programme to bring sanitation and hygiene awareness to seven districts in Bangladesh, and specifically targeted 51 villages. Oxfam Unwrapped organised 25 workshops and recruited and mobilized Community Health Volunteers to spread the word about not spreading germs.
Clean water and hygiene go together in the same way as dirty water and sickness, so the project also installed 33 hand pumps. Both the pumps and the new loos were built on raised ground, to make sure people could still access them in the event of a flood.
Now Sheuly is ‘good to go’. She says “I am much benefited to get toilet support and thank Oxfam”.
Clean toilets can also encourage kids to stay in school – see how Oxfam Unwrapped loos are making a difference in Ethiopia by clicking on the video link above.