About 50% of Kukub community members practice open defecation. This practice poses serious risks to public health, environment and human dignity. The situation caused spread of water related diseases, and pollution of surface water bodies making unfit for human consumption. Lack of access to hygiene and sanitation is often associated with poverty, inadequate infrastructure and lack of awareness about the important of hygiene and sanitation. Through CIFA with funding from Christian Aid, group interventions were supported through survivor community led response (sclr) microgrants in Moyale.
Kukub Bari Youth self-help group members came up with intervention of rehabilitating 6 pit latrines to promote hygiene and sanitation within the village. Three out of the six pit latrines are meant for public places namely church, mosque and water point area whereas the remaining three latrines are rehabilitated for communal use within the village.
Jarso Roba the group chairperson says, “The improvement of pit latrines reduced cases of diarrhea, vomiting and stomach ailments among the community members by 60%”.
The youth led group of 17 members (8 males and 9 females) accorded overwhelming appreciation and recognition from the larger community members as the intervention aims at improving sanitation within the village.
Diba Wario, one of the group members says, “Through community awareness about hygiene and sanitation during the pit latrine rehabilitation people have gained knowledge and started practicing community led total sanitation approach as the result 4 more pit latrines constructed to discourage open defecation”.
The group initiative minimizes contamination of water sources and led to health improvement among the community members in Kukub village.