Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

PIPAD has been active in water, sanitation and hygiene for over 3 years. The organization began experimenting with hygiene and sanitation activities, more recently branching into water supply projects. PIPAD uses a holistic approach to water, sanitation, and hygiene by integrating these three areas into each project. We believe this is the only way to reduce morbidity and mortality rates related to fecal and water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, intestinal parasites and diarrhea. Around the world diarrhea kills over 3 million people a year, most of whom are children.

PIPAD is making a difference in the lives of ordinary people in Cameroon. To date, projects have been carried out in 21 villages, 113 latrines have been built at homes and in schools, 1 water source has been constructed and 21 hygiene committees are active as a result of the hygiene activities carried out.

The most recent project is active in 15 villages. This includes 6 villages where follow-up is being carried out, and 9 villages that are new to PIPAD. The activities undertaken include:

Hygiene Promotion
Five animators were hired and trained to use PHAST (Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation) with village groups for hygiene promotion. The animators visit each village once a week and use the participatory technique to explore with the population hygiene habits, pathways of contamination, barriers to those pathways such as latrine use and hand-washing, and options for improving water and sanitation facilities. Hygiene committees are to be formed and trained in order to continue hygiene promotion. Community participation leads to a much more sustainable outcome.

Sanitation
The main activity within sanitation is the construction of latrines. 18 to 30 latrines will be built in each village. Two masons in each village will be trained in the construction of SanPlats. SanPlats are sanitary platforms made of reinforced concrete to be placed on top of the latrine pit. The principal of the platforms is to provide a smooth surface which can be cleaned easily. A cover for the hole is also constructed to eliminate flies and smells. This leads to a much more hygienic latrine, which are very affordable.

Water Supply
Three to five village water supplies will be upgraded within the project. Funds are limited, therefore villages will be chosen based on the likelihood that the investment will be a sustainable one. Village water committees must be in place to maintain and operate the system. Many villages currently use rivers, springs and hand-dug wells for drinking water sources. The water is rarely potable. Upgrading these systems will provide water of much higher quality. Combined with improved sanitation and an increased knowledge of good hygiene practices, rates of illness will decrease substantially.

We gratefully acknowledge support from: