Sustainable sanitation facilities promote health because they allow people to dispose of their waste appropriately. Throughout the developing world, especially in countries like Bangladesh, many people do not have access to suitable sanitation facilities. The absence of basic sanitation facilities can result in diseases like cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, polio, hepatitis A, typhoid, etc. It’s difficult for the poor to bear the expenses of those diseases.
This story is about Mujibur Rahman. This 45-year old man with physical disabilities lives in a village named South Shilkhali Para under the Baharchara Union of Teknaf. Despite not having a leg, Mujibur has to work as a day laborer as he is the only earning person of his 8-member family. Along with Mujibur’s disability, his family members used to suffer from various diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, etc. due to using their unhygienic latrine. Most of Mujibur’s earnings were spent on medical treatment for his family members. His children could not go to school regularly due to these diseases. Also, as the toilet was far away from his home, he suffered a lot; especially at night.
After attending HYSAWA’s regular courtyard sessions, Mujibur learnt about hygiene issues and realize the importance of a hygienic latrine. So he requested HYSAWA through the Community Organizers and Volunteers to get an improved household latrine.
One day after a successful courtyard session, the HYSAWA Teknaf team visited Mujibur’s ramshackle house and unhygienic toilet. Considering his poor condition, the HYSAWA team decided to give his family an improved household latrine. Within a few months, Mujibur’s family got an improved hygienic latrine at their arm’s length. Now they also maintain hygiene properly as they learnt from HYSAWAs courtyard sessions and clean the toilet regularly. They are safe from different diseases as well! Mujibur’s children can go to school regularly.
Nowadays, Mujibur Rahman does not have to buy so many medicines for his family. So he does not have to be in financial crisis like before. This has increased their standard of living. After getting the toilet their life has become much easier than before.
Case study collected by Mostafa Mohammad Tahan, Media & Communication Officer, HYSAWA, March 2022.