Towards an ODF Milenge

By Linda Mupemo

Picture courtesy of Google images

I was deep in the heart of Milenge District one afternoon, sniffing around for news as usual. I came across a tiny  structure made of grass. The grass had started rotting away, an indication it had been there for a long period of time, probably a year. I thought it was a barn or something, until I saw people come out. I was amazed. 

As if he read my thoughts, the Ward Councillor who accompanied me on that assignment, as he showed me around the area, told me that was one of the many houses of that nature in his ward. 

A second look at the structure made one thing clear to me, the 'house' neither had a bathroom nor a toilet. The house in question  is a few meters away from Luapula river. I did not even want to imagine where the people from that household go when they want to answer the call of nature. 

Open defecation is one of the contributing factors to poor sanitation especially in rural communities. Some households do not have toilets, hence the people  resort to answering the call of nature from the bush or water bodies. 

Milenge District, in Luapula Province is one of the rural areas affected by this practice. 

A survey conducted by Akros in March, 2018 indicates that 42.9 percent of Milenge households are Open Defecation Free (ODF). This shows an improvement as the district was staggering at 11.3 percent  by June last year. 

The survey further states that out of 306 villages in the district, 11 have achieved the status of ODF. Showing that 22, 000 households do not have adequate toilets. 

Adequate in this context refers to toilets that meet the four set parameters; lid, super structure, cleanable/smooth floor and a hand washing equipment. 

There are many factors that influence the practice of open defecation in Milenge. For instance, some parts of the district are water logged hence some pit latrines collapse when there is a heavy down pour. In addition, most people spend many weeks at their farms or fishing camps where there are no toilets. 

However, there is no excuse to continue this unhygienic practice. Open defecation leads to the ingestion of human waste through contaminated water supplies or it being spread by flies. This results to illnesses such as diarrhea, caused by poor sanitary conditions,  and in the long run death. 

Some village head men in Milenge who were engaged by Akros came up with rules such as households found without toilets having to pay K 50 or one chicken. This is a step in the right direction. 

However, I am of the view that more stringent measures should be enlisted such as the formulation of a by-law by the District Council to forbid open defecation. This law can go a long way in improving the levels of  adherence and ensuring those found wanting are dealt with accordingly. 

During District Water and Sanitation Health Education (D-WASHE) meetings, the issue that comes out prominently is the lack of funding to carry out monitoring activities.  The United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) recently weaned off Milenge, it had been financially supporting the sanitation project in the district through Akros for one year. In other words, the onus is now on the government to ensure enough funds are allocated towards sanitation. 

If Sustainable Development Goal 6 which is aimed at achieving  universal access to safe drinking water, ending open defecation, among others is to be achieved, there is need to double up efforts in eradicating open defecation in the country especially in rural areas where it is prevalent.

There is need to beef up sensitisation activities in the communities. There is need to come up with action plans aimed at promoting adherence to having adequate toilets and hence eradicating the vice. 

I know it can be done. I know it will be done. I dream of that day when Milenge District will be declared an Open Defecation Free zone!