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Traditional pit latrines are often utilised in first-phase emergencies due to their
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speed of construction , and the availability of local materials. As programmes
or situations develop, a move towards the use of improved latrine models is
usually seen. This paper explores how Oxfam GBs public health programme
in Angola is successfully going back to basics, emphasising the development
of traditional pit latrines in place of improved concrete slab latrines.
Introduction
The Oxfam GB programme in Angola is going through a transition from humanitarian
response towards sustainable development programmes. This shift has begun as a
result of the on-going peace process following the death of the UNITA leader Jonas
Savimbi in February 2002, and the signing of a cease-fire agreement between
UNITA and the government forces in April 2002. Since the fighting ended, many of
the displacement (IDP) camps and the demobilisation areas have closed. During,
and just following, the conflict, Oxfam GBs work was focused in these areas,
ensuring the provision of water, sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion.
Following the closure of these camps, their populations have started returning to
their areas of origin. Thus, over the past six months there has been a shift in the
emphasis of the Oxfam GB public health programme to prioritise working within
these returnee communities.
Many families in these communities have prior knowledge of latrines, either as a
result of their time in the camps, or from the few families who had previously
constructed them in their own homes.
In the camps, provision was made for 1 latrine per 20 people as per the SPHERE
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standards . Mobilisation and sensitisation techniques were used to encourage the
hygienic operation and maintenance of these latrines as part of the health promotion
programme, but as often happens some families were unwilling to participate,
and a number of the latrines were not cleaned or maintained.
When the public health programme started within the return communities, a similar
methodology employing concrete latrine slabs was introduced. The budgetary
constraints of the programme were still only allowing for the same ratio of 1 latrine
per 20 people, and with the memory of the problems within the camps communities
were unenthusiastic to participate unless a solution could be found to allow each
household to construct a latrine of their own. Concerns about latrine provision for
those families who have not yet returned to the community were also raised.
This paper discusses how the Oxfam sanitation team in the Province of Huambo has
identified and responded to these changes by leading the programme in the use of
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local materials, and increasing their outputs nearly seven-fold .
The Process
Mobilisation
A community consultation and sensitisation process was carried out by the
mobilisation teams using participatory methods. Community members were
encouraged to discuss any problems they had related to water and sanitation, and to
suggest potential solutions.
In relation to sanitation, the discussion between community members and the Oxfam
team focused on finding an alternative solution to the existing sanitation programme
and on gaining a better understanding of what was stopping the families from
constructing latrines without external support.
The outcome of these discussions was the formulation of an understanding that the
communities were able to construct traditional family latrines using locally available
materials, the reduced cost of which would allow every family to construct one, but
that they do not have all the necessary tools and expertise to do this. With the
support of Oxfam in the provision of toolkits and advice on latrine construction, the
community can construct their own latrines. Resources, toolkits, and know-how will
remain in the community after Oxfam has left, and will be available to families who
are yet to return to the community.
The main link between Oxfam and the communities during the process is the GAS,
or Grupo de Agua e Saneamento. The GAS are community water and sanitation
committees, which are created and trained following the construction of a new water
point or sanitary facility. These committees play a very important role in all of
Oxfams interventions. They are involved in all stages of the sanitation programme,
with special emphasis on community mobilisation and on control of the toolkits.
The Toolkits
One of the main areas of support that communities requested from Oxfam was with
tools to assist with the digging of the pit, construction of the squatting platform and
the superstructure. A system of rotation of toolkits was agreed and implemented,
with each kit being shared between 10-15 households. Table 1 shows the list of tools
contained in each toolkit. The kits are signed over either to a representative of the
GAS committee or to a community mobiliser. The recipient of the toolkit is
responsible for ensuring that all households wishing to construct latrines have
access to the tools, and that they are returned when the household has finished,
allowing rotation to the next household.
Once all the households have finished construction, the majority of the toolkits are
returned to Oxfam for use in a new community. Approximately 1 kit per 100 latrines
constructed is left with the GAS or other representative of the community to allow
newly-returning families to be able to construct their own latrines, drawing on the
advice and knowledge gained by the GAS committees or other community members.
Table 1. Community Toolkits
Contents of the community
toolkit
Each kit shared between
approx. 10-15 families
1. no. Shovel
1 no. Pickaxe
1 no. Metal Bucket
1 no. Hoe
1 no. Machete
1 no. Axe
5m Rope
COST = Approx. $100
Community members say that they spend approximately 4 days to construct the
latrine, 2 days to dig the pit, and 2 days to construct the superstructure (once the
materials have been collected). If made with grass, the process is longer for those
who are constructing with adobe blocks.
A system of support for those who are unable to construct the latrines for themselves
such as the elderly, people with disabilities, or female-headed households is
being implemented. For example, in the community of Canjili II, a team of four men
is available to assist such people. Those who are able to do so pay for the
assistance in rations of food. This aspect of the programme needs to be carefully
monitored by Oxfam, to ensure that vulnerable people and their families are not
being excluded from the programme, or being requested to pay more than they can
afford for the service.
Disadvantages/Challenges
Possible contribution to deforestation
Cleaning of slab more difficult than with
concrete slab
Reliance on mobilisation, and thus
reliance on the commitment and
acceptance of the Oxfam team to
promote the methodology
Not all community members or
households will be physically or
materially able to construct their own
latrine. Solutions to enable such
households to participate need to be
identified and implemented within target
communities.
Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges the hard work and enthusiasm of the Oxfam GB Angola
Huambo team with special mention of Zacarias Tchitumba, Manuel Quingani, and
George Barreras. The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author,
however, and should not be taken as representing the views of Oxfam GB.
References/Notes
1. Harvey, P. Baghri,S. Reed, B. (2002) Emergency Sanitation, assessment and
program design. WEDC.
2. The Sphere Project (2000), Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in
Disaster Response. The Sphere Project.
3. Between January-December 2002, 440 latrines were constructed whereas
between January-April 2003, 1,047 latrines were constructed.