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Development Sector: Sanitation
Conditions
Hygiene and disease prevention begins with awareness of the issues. Lasting effect, is brought about by building on the foundation of awareness, with the blocks of education. To combat the serious health concerns surrounding open defecation practices the NEA introduced the KVIP (Kumasi Ventilated Improved Pit) latrines into the project sites and various villages in an attempt to reduce the spread of diseases such as diarrhea, malaria and hookworm.
Benefits:
The KVIP latrines are designed such that they do not need outside care. Unlike North American septic tanks, they do not have to be pumped out on a regular basis which makes them sustainable units in their communities. They are quite inexpensive to build and maintain. They make life much easier for residents, especially seniors, who no longer have to walk distances from the village for private places of convenience. But as mentioned, primarily, they are an important link in improving health by reducing the spread of diseases. To date the KVIP latrines are located in all three project areas:
KVIPS: Janga: 6
KVIPS: Deg area: 16
KVIPS: South Mo area: 4 under construction (Jan 2008)