Summary

There is a demonstrable need for improvements to public health infrastructure in Fort Dauphin. In the most crowded districts the majority of the population have little or no access to basic sanitation, and people defecate in public spaces, especially near beaches. This is a public health hazard and detrimental to tourism, one of the main economic drivers for this region.

Azafady sought to make sustainable improvements to public health in Fort Dauphin through the provision of public sanitation infrastructure (communal latrines) and support for the management of this infrastructure by the community.

Project Aim

To improve public health and promote economic development in Fort Dauphin through the provision of communal latrines

Objectives

1. Increased accessibility of public hygienic sanitation infrastructure in Fort Dauphin.

2. Increased capacity of Fort Dauphin Urban Commune to sustainably manage and maintain public health infrastructure

Principal Activities

Sanitation education
During the PHAST (Participatory Hygiene And Sanitation Transformation) process community members learned about the causes of diarrhoeal disease, analysed their health problems, and identified appropriate solutions. In this way the community was integral to all stages of the project, from preparation through implementation, to ongoing management and maintenance of the infrastructure.

Latrine construction
Double pit latrines were constructed using materials and tools that were locally and sustainably sourced wherever possible. Sustainability mechanisms were put into place to ensure the ongoing management and maintenance of the infrastructure by the community.