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Changemakers Forum:
Entry:Sanitation, hygiene, and proper water management for the rural poor to improve health and quality of life.
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Dear Kshama Metre-ji,
I am also very interested to learn your response to the questions asked by Pius Kahangirwe.
Great work and hope to hear from you,
Brian
Dear Mr. Kshama,
Please share with me more on how you advocate for the following:- toilet construction, water management and sanitation measures such as: soakage pits, kitchen gardens for proper recycling or disposal of kitchen waste water, rainwater harvesting, revival of natural water sources, check dams, gabions, loose boulders, and plantation to prevent soil erosion, garbage pits, and segregation of plastics for recycling. We could borrow a leaf from your experience otherwise thanks for the innovation.
Kind regards,
Pius kahangirwe
Makerere University Institute of Environment & Natural resources
P.O. Box 7062
kampala-Uganda.
+256 712 929120
Dear Pius Kahangirwe,
Our work started in 1985 with providing basic healthcare to villagers. In relation to sanitation and hygiene, we first implement simple practices such as cutting nails, washing hands, recycling kitchen water for kitchen gardens, and constructing soakage pits for waste water. After building a rapport with the local villagers by facilitating the formation of women’s groups and community based organizations etc we hold awareness programmes to reach out to the entire community. During awareness programs we inform the people of the importance of proper water management practices, proper sanitation and hygiene, the necessity of toilet construction, ill effects of open defecation to the community and individuals, and various other community related issues. These are all presented in a way which relates to their personal health, and the well being of their family and community.
Natural resource management practices must be need based and demanded by the people, otherwise it will not be participatory or cooperative. After establishing a rapport with villagers, problems in irrigation, water availability, farmable land availability and viability, resource management etc. are uncovered. We have focused our efforts a few areas, so once the problems are identified in other areas we can show examples of success and guide them in replicating these successes.
Now after 20 years of development, our program uses a truly integrated and holistic approach to rural development. We hold special training sessions for “resource persons” in different aspects of development, among them are sanitation and hygiene, and natural resource management. These resource persons work in their own villages, and advocate implementation of the above said practices. They lead by example, sensitize the people through community based organizations to various issues, and speak with and motivate their fellow community members, family, friends, and neighbors to take their development into their own hands.
Please write if you have any more inquiries.
Affectionately,
Kshama Metre
nationaldirectorcord@rediffmail.com