SAFEGUARDING HEALTH AND DIGNITY: CORBELLED LATRINES' TRIUMPH IN TA KAWINGA

By Ulemu Mbengwani

Imagine desperately needing a basic necessity like a proper toilet, a place where you and your loved ones can find relief in privacy and dignity. Instead, you are confronted with a harsh reality where you are forced to use the bushes. Something that not only compromises one's privacy and dignity but also raises the risk of spreading diseases like diarrhea within your family and community.

Such was the grim situation in TA Kawinga, Machinga district. In this region, the sandy soil caused toilets to collapse as soon as the rainy season began. People had no choice but to resort to nearby bushes as makeshift toilets until the rains subsided, and they could rebuild. This cycle of using bushes persisted every year.

Thanks to the Deliver Life II project, hope has arrived for the people in this area. This initiative introduced Corbelled latrines, locally known as "Mamuna Apumule," meaning "men should rest." The project is a collaborative effort by WaterAid Malawi, AMREF Health Africa, and the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE), with a specific focus on addressing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) issues, particularly for mothers, adolescent girls, and under-five children.

Rhodrick Mwakula, the Project Officer for Deliver Life II, working under AMREF, shared their experience in the area and the inspiration behind adopting and promoting Corbelled latrines. “At the project's outset, the primary goal was to declare T/A Kawinga open defecation-free. The people here encountered a recurring issue in previous years when toilets would collapse during the rainy season because the soil is predominantly sandy. As we convened to devise a strategy for constructing resilient toilets, we discovered the Mzuzu Smart Centre, which had developed modern latrines. These toilets are robustly designed to endure sandy soil environments, which happen to be prevalent in the Kawinga area. They are highly durable, with a lifespan of up to 7 years”.

Local masons from TA Kawinga, TA Chikwewo, and Nyambi were carefully chosen for training, and their training took place in Dowa, where a similar project had already made strides. Upon their return, these skilled artisans put their newly acquired knowledge to practical use by building a sample toilet at the Mbandulira under-five clinic, located 7 kilometers away from the Kawinga health center. This clinic plays a crucial role in offering essential services such as growth monitoring, vaccinations, and a wide range of medical care, including family planning consultations and prescription services.

Patrick Nyundo, who serves as a volunteer health promoter in Mbandulira village, explained the motivation behind this development. Reflecting on their situation, he said, “We received a toilet due to the persistent issue of our toilets collapsing during the rainy season here in Mbandulira village. Upon realizing that the locally built toilets weren't enduring the test of time, they took the initiative to construct this model toilet first and foremost to support this clinic and secondly for community members to emulate and build this design of toilets in their homes. Their approach aims to alleviate the challenges of annually rebuilding toilets and enduring the hardships of having no toilets throughout the rainy season.”

“The fascinating aspect of this toilet lies in its functionality as a successful model. Recently, the residents of Mkoola village approached me, intrigued by how we acquired and implemented this innovative toilet. Intrigued by the robust design and durability, their interest grew, and they expressed a strong desire to adopt a similar approach. To my knowledge, I can proudly say that three individuals have already successfully implemented this design for their own toilets,” shared Nyundo.

The under-five clinic caters not only to the residents of the village but also to five surrounding villages and several smaller ones. Jamia Maganizo, a regular visitor to the clinic, also expressed immense gratitude for the introduction of the toilet, which now allows their children to use a hygienic and dignified facility for their needs. She further highlighted that before the toilet was installed, they faced substantial challenges. Whenever children needed to relieve themselves, they had no choice but to take them to the nearby bushes.

Picture young children forced to use bushes as makeshift toilets. This unfortunate practice sets a dangerous precedent, making it exceedingly challenging to later convince them that this practice is harmful and wrong. Therefore, it's imperative that we break this cycle by providing safe and dignified sanitation solutions, ensuring a healthier and more hygienic future for these communities.

It is essential to recognize that open defecation transcends inconvenience; it presents a grave public health threat. Particularly when the rainy season arrives, this hazardous practice becomes even more pronounced, with rainwater carrying fecal matter, contaminating vital water sources and the surrounding ecosystem.

Christopher Kashasha, one of the skilled builders trained by Amref, explained how these toilets are cost-effective and eco-friendly. “These contemporary toilets offer an advantage by negating the need for cement. Their construction relies on well-suited soil instead. Soil suitability is determined using a sampling technique. Various soil samples are enclosed in bottles, water is introduced, and after 24 hours, the sample that maintains its structure after absorbing water is deemed appropriate for constructing these toilets. The toilet's pit is sealed by constructing a circular brick structure, gradually narrowing the hole as it ascends. I've built three toilets, generating income. One of them is in Ndoli village (Chinyasa) and serves as a model.”

This project is dedicated to assisting the less privileged and low-income earners. The cost for these toilets is capped at MWK30,000 ($22) per unit. "For those unable to afford it, alternative arrangements are accepted, such as providing two chickens, with one chicken valued at MWK4,500 - 5,000 ($4) in this area. Erecting these toilets is not excessively labor-intensive; the process can be completed in a day and typically takes no more than 10 hours,” added Kashasha.

Currently, Christopher is constructing three toilets at Mpombe Primary School, where the staff houses' toilets collapsed during the last rainy season. Aron Ulaya, the school's headmaster, acknowledged the significant challenge posed by their sandy soil. "Pit latrines would routinely collapse within a year, particularly during the rainy season. This situation led them to rely on the school toilets or those near the church, a difficult endeavor, especially at night. Fortunately, the builders have now provided a solution. Three new toilets have been constructed for the staff houses, offering hope and eliminating the need for annual construction, ensuring long-lasting solutions for the future", explained Ulaya.

Thanks to the Deliver Life II project's introduction of Corbelled latrines, TA Kawinga has undergone a remarkable transformation in sanitation and hygiene, effectively addressing the challenge of collapsing toilets that once led to open defecation. These modern latrines not only provide cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions but also serve as inspiring models for neighboring communities. The days of open defecation during rainy seasons are quickly becoming a thing of the past. As the rainy season approaches, a new era of dignity and health emerges on the horizon, promising a brighter future for this community.