Footsteps 73

SANITATION

Photo: Scott Harrison / charity

We all need to go to the toilet – usually a number of times each day. Despite this, sanitation is something that people are often embarrassed to talk about, making it easy to ignore. Around 2.6 billion people lack access to safe sanitation, which results in hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Sanitation is something we should not ignore! This issue of Footsteps is timely as 2008 is the United Nations Year of Sanitation.

Please find below articles from Footsteps issue 73 in html.

To download a pdf version of Footsteps issue 73, please click here (345KB).

Advocating for sanitation and hygiene by Mwakamubaya Nasekwa and François Kiza The Democratic Republic of Congo, a country coming out of a long war, faces many challenges, including that of improving the living conditions of its population through the promotion of sanitation and hygien... More >>

Bible study: Setting a good example This Bible study helps us to think about how we should live responsibly and set a good example to those around us. Read Genesis 2: 4-25. What does God provide for Adam’s benefit? What responsibilities does God give to Adam? What does this p... More >>

Community-led total sanitation ‘Community-led total sanitation’ was pioneered in Bangladesh by Kamal Kar (a development consultant from India) and the Village Education Resource Centre while they were evaluating an NGO’s traditional subsidised sanitation programme. They wanted to ... More >>

Editorial We all need to go to the toilet – usually a number of times each day. Despite this, sanitation is something that people are often embarrassed to talk about, making it easy to ignore. Around 2.6 billion people lack access to safe sanitation, which res... More >>

Gender and sanitation Compiled by Rachel Blackman When considering sanitation and hygiene, it is important to consider the different needs and preferences of both men and women. Women in particular are affected by a lack of adequate latrines. If women have to defe... More >>

Glossary of words used in this issue ANAL relating to the anus, through which faeces pass DEFECATION passing faeces from the body DIARRHOEA the passing of at least three very watery faeces each day DYSENTERY an infection causing diarrhoea containing blood and mucus, often accompani... More >>

Health promotion in Darfur, Sudan by Anne McCulloch Knowing the best way to keep yourself and your family healthy is important. This is especially the case for the people of Darfur in Sudan, who have been displaced from their homes due to fighting and are living in cramped basic co... More >>

Letters Respecting rights, recognising duties The idea of rights implies that of duties. The rights of one person bring about the duties of another and the duties of another bring about the rights of another. Citizenship education means making people awa... More >>

Resources A guide to the development of on-site sanitation by R Franceys, J Pickford and R Reed This book, published by the World Health Organisation, provides in-depth technical information about the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the ma... More >>

Sanitation and HIV by Jennifer Organ HIV is affecting communities across the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. People living with HIV often suffer from diarrhoea and tiredness. Diarrhoea increases the need for easy and frequent use of a toilet, while weakness ... More >>

Sanitation and the Millennium Development Goals by Frank Greaves and Laura Webster Sanitation – the safe management of human waste – is critical to the health of communities. Good sanitation can help to control infectious conditions, such as diarrhoea and dysentery. Improved sanitation and hygie... More >>

Selecting appropriate latrines by Frank Greaves Why do so many latrine programmes not have their intended impact on the health of the community? In recent years there has been more emphasis on changing attitudes towards sanitation and hygiene, hygiene education and community own... More >>

Working to improve hygiene and health in Bolivia by Felina Albornoz, Paulina Rivas and Hermógenes Lizarazu Part of the Mosoj Yan programme in Cochabamba, Bolivia, is a ‘Motivation Centre’ which works with young female street dwellers. These people have acute health needs as they live in unhealthy... More >>

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