Monday, July 28, 2008

Open Defecation (a.k.a. “Shitting in the Bush”) and Other Risky Behaviours

The hygiene promoters have a list of risky behaviours that they discuss in village meetings. They discus why these behaviours are risky. Some of the discussion is very blunt and the villagers have a good laugh about it. The idea is that building latrines and wells is only part of the solution to decreasing incidences of water borne/hygiene related diseases!

Risky Behaviour #1: Open Defecation (a.k.a. “shitting in the bush”)

This is what a villager must do if they do not have any sort of a latrine. So when the hygiene promoters arrive at a village without latrines, they know open defecation exists (but people don’t talk about it!). Why is it risky? I faeces is left in the open, it becomes a breading ground for bacteria and flies are also free to come and go from your food from the pile. The problem is that flies are also free to come and go from your food and can therefore transfer bacteria from faeces to food. So if you have a latrine, but your neighbour doesn’t, you’re not safe from the flies! Way forward: start building some sort of a latrine.

Risky Behviour #2: Not washing your hands

There are a variety of risky hand washing habits. The most basic risky behaviour is not washing your hands at all. Why is it risky? Toilet paper isn't used so much in the village, so it's either a leaf or your left hand! Way forward: build and use a hand washing station outside your latrine.

Risky Behaviour #3: Leaving dishes on the ground

Most cooking is done outside and dishes, even after they are washed, are left on the ground. There's no kitchen, let alone a sink or counter top. So animal like chickens, goats, dogs, and pigs can sniff, lick, and step in dishes, pots, and pans! Why is it risky? All of these animals are also free to roam in the bush (see Risky Behaviour #1). Way forward: build a dish rack to dry & store your dishes.

Risky Behaviour #4: Washing hands in shared water

It is a tradition in Zambia to rinse your hands with water at the dinner table before eating nshima. At restaurants there are water dispensers to wash your hands. In homes you use a bowl of water. Why is it risky? Everyone at the table washing their hands in the same bowl of water means your sharing germs with everyone at the table! Way forward: pour water from a pitcher of water and use soap.

...etc.

So what do you think about this? It may seem like common sense to wash your hands after going to the bathroom in the west. Why do you wash your hands after going to the bathroom? Why do you bother using the bathroom?

*Drawings are from a PHAST training guide*

4 comments:

Brian Magee said...

So i've got the family down with the "using soap/pouring water over the hands from a container" technique. Really, liking the dish rack thing though. Think i can build one?

Olivia said...

Yup! Just ask your family to show you how they get the main support poles of an insaka in the ground. It goes something like this: dig a hole, put the log/branch in the hole, partially fill it with crushed stones, and then fill and compact the rest with soil. do that for four supports and then build the top of the rack using more branches or planks of wood. I've also seen double dish racks - they have another shelf underneath for dishes that are waiting to be cleaned. :)

Esther, Kenya said...

Hi Olivia,
you're probably not in Zambia anymore, do have a question though. Do you have more of these illustrations? I usec to work with 'phast' and had a lot of these drawings on my pc. but it crashed. I'm preparing a training on PAST in kenya and am looking for digital pics for my ppt...Hope to hear from you,
Esther (from The Netherlands)

Anonymous said...

Hi Olivia -- I have the same question as Esther. I did a google search for PHAST illustrations and your blog came up. Do you know where I can find more drawings? I'm working with PHASt at the moment in LIberia. Thanks!
Emily
emilykyost@gmail.com