chlorine bleach a strong chemical that can be used to make water safe for drinking.
cholera a serious disease causing severe diarrhoea with vomiting caused by food and water that is made dirty with faeces. Unless treated it can cause rapid dehydration and death in a few hours.
community people living in one local area, often with the same culture and similar interests.
defecate to pass faeces from the body
dehydration losing more fluid from the body than is replaced by drinking
development a process of change that should lead to improvements in social and financial well-being and increased confidence
diarrhoea microbial disease that results in passing at least three very watery faeces a day and causes dehydration
dysentery a type of severe diarrhoea where there is fever, and blood and mucus in the faeces
faeces solid waste products from the body
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
hygiene clean and healthy practices that maintain good health
latrine a small building or structure, usually separate from a house, where people go to get rid of faeces and urine
malaria a serious disease, resulting from the bite of an infected mosquito, which causes repeated high fever and headaches and may cause death
menstruation the regular monthly loss of blood and womb lining from a woman of child-bearing age
microbes a general term to describe the many different kinds of microorganisms which can cause diarrhoea and disease
nausea the unpleasant feeling of being about to vomit
NGOs non-governmental organisations managed independently of government
ORS Oral Rehydration Salts that are mixed with water to prevent dehydration due to diarrhoea
sanitation safe methods to dispose of human faeces, urine and other household waste
soakaway drainage area or pit for waste water, usually filled with stones to provide good drainage and to prevent pools of waste water forming that attract flies and allow mosquitoes to breed
SODIS using the sun’s energy to make water safe for drinking
typhoid a serious disease resulting from food and water made dirty by faeces from an infected person, that causes severe fever, headache, stomach pain and skin rash
urine liquid waste product from the body
womb (or uterus) the protective female organ in which a baby grows