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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected] SANITATION action groups (SAG) have been established in rural communities to improve water and sanitation hygiene standards and to end open defecation. These SAGs, formed at the village level, are tasked with educating villagers on essential hygiene practices such as keeping their homes clean, washing hands, constructing ablution facilities, and maintaining a clean environment.
Members of SAG receive training from Water and Sanitation Hygiene structures and Environmental Health Technicians (EHTs). The SAG committee in Mtshabezi Village, Gwanda District, has been particularly effective in curbing open defecation.
The village was recently certified as open defecation free after successfully implementing a water and sanitation hygiene (WASH) programme, which led to the construction of latrines by community members.
Additionally, villagers have established hand washing points outside their ablution facilities. Mr Charles Nyoni, the chairperson of the Zenzele Sanitation Action Group, said that their committee was established early last year.
“We were engaged by EHTs from the community and they told us about the need to establish Sanitation Action Groups in our community with the main purpose of ensuring that people construct toilets. A committee was formed and I was voted to be the chairperson. We named our committee Zenzele Sanitation Action Group.
“Our first major task was to identify homesteads that didn’t have toilets and then we went on to engage these families to ensure they establish ablution facilities. Vulnerable families were assisted with resources for their toilets and also labour. Before we started working within the community we were first trained on water and sanitation issues,” he said.
Ms Sikhangele Moyo, the vice chairperson of Zenzele SAG, shared that the first phase of their programme targeted 78 homesteads. Among these, 30 lacked ablution facilities, and most did not have hand-washing points.
Ms Moyo explained that their initial step was to educate community members on the importance of maintaining hygiene in their homes and the necessity of establishing ablution facilities.
“We educated communities on general water and sanitation hygiene issues and also on constructing toilets. Our awareness campaign involved hygiene in our kitchens, bedrooms, yards and every part of our homes and disposal of litter. We also looked at how we can use water to maintain hygiene in our homes. We strongly educated people on the health challenges posed by open defecation.
“Educating people has helped to change their mindset and they now have a better understanding of water and sanitation hygiene issues. People haven’t only constructed toilets but they are also ensuring that their toilets are kept clean,” she said.
Ms Moyo stressed that the next goal is for the educated villagers to spread the knowledge, encouraging all households in their village to construct ablution facilities. She believes that once one village complies, the message will spread to other villages, ultimately achieving zero open defecation.
Mtshabezi’s senior village head, Mr Sindiso Nyathi, highlighted the importance of information dissemination in changing community mindsets. He noted that some villagers still cling to outdated practices, including open defecation.
To support WASH programmes, traditional leaders will follow up with villagers to ensure they build toilets. Nyathi also said that villagers with new stands will be required to construct toilets before building their homes.
“I’m glad that this programme was rolled out in my community and one of the major components of this programme has been to educate communities on water, sanitation and hygiene issues. If a community has been educated then that community can be empowered.
“I would also like to applaud the work being done by Sanitation Action Groups. If we have such a group in each ward then we will be able to have an open defecation-free district,” he said. —@DubeMatutu
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