Latrine building in Ghana

Worldwide 2.6 billion people live without access to effective latrines.  This contributes heavily to the widespread incidence of water-related diseases, which kill a child every 15 seconds.

See the step by step slideshow of latrine building in Ghana

WaterAid's projects help poor communities to build their own latrines close to home.  The exact design varies according to local conditions.  Some are household latrines, some are communal.  In Africa the latrines tend to be dry pit latrines, whereas in Asia pour-flush latrines, with a U-bend and water seal, are more common.  In both continents composting latrines, which produce a rich fertiliser from the latrine's contents, are also being increasingly introduced.

In all projects, communities are actively encouraged to undertake as much of the construction work themselves as possible.

The photo gallery gives a step by step guide to the construction of household ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines undertaken by WaterAid and partner organisation New Energy in the Yapalsi district of Ghanaian city Tamale.

It is very much a collaborative process: New Energy and WaterAid provide and pay for the skilled labour, tools and substructure (below ground) materials such as concrete blocks, cement and a vent pipe, while the householders dig the pits, assist the latrine artisans and build and pay for the huts enclosing the latrines, with New Energy's help and advice.

The community in Yapalsi have been very eager to take part in the project, as they are really looking forward to the difference latrines will make to their lives, as explained by 47 year old resident Samata Sulemana:

"It is a serious problem when you don't have a latrine.  When you defecate freely the flies can carry germs back into the house and on to your food and you can fall sick.

The smell of the faeces everywhere means you don't have fresh air to breathe.  My family has fallen sick.

When we have a latrine there will be a big improvement in our lives.  All the households here have agreed to build one so there will be no careless defecation and everyone will be healthier."