Arua locals prefer bush to latrines, says report
An inspector assessing the makeshift latrine in the Municipality. Most homes do not have latrines on grounds that they are expensive to construct. Photo by Felix Warom Okello
What you need to know:
- Out of a total population of 75,3000 in Arua District, about 266,549 use open defecation and have no latrines.
The report suggests that there are 107,000 households without latrines. - The SNV Rwenzori regional water and sanitation advisor, Mr Henry Kakoza, said they want to change people’s behaviour to improve hygiene.
ARUA. A new report has revealed that residents in Arua District prefer open defecation in bushes to constructing pit-latrines.
The one-year study conducted by Non-Government Organisation, SNV, in Arua between 2014 and 2016 paints a picture of poor sanitation in the communities, which makes them prone outbreaks of diseases like cholera, dysentery, as well as water borne diseases since the water used by residents is unsafe.
While releasing the report on Tuesday in Arua District, the SNV Rwenzori regional water and sanitation advisor, Mr Henry Kakoza, said: “We want to change people’s behaviour to improve hygiene like washing hands, bathing and construction of latrines. We want open defecation stopped because this leads to contamination of food and water sources.”
He added: “If people can borrow loans from banks to wed, why don’t we have people borrow money to construct latrines that will end up saving lives?”
Out of a total population of 75,3000 in Arua District, about 266,549 use open defecation and have no latrines.
The report suggests that there are 107,000 households without latrines.
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