Ending open defecation in Kamalamai through latrine construction and awareness building

Previously, only one in four households in this area had a latrine. Now, through our partner (CIUD)'s work, only 50 households are without one, and the work continues to support them with construction and awareness raising about the health implications of open defecation.

This family has constructed their own latrine and connected a biogas unit to it, which provides a biogas supply in the kitchen for cooking (shown in the photo below). Biogas is produced by mixing animal dung, human faeces and water, and is an environmentally friendly source of energy. 

They shared their former experience of living without a latrine. “We used to have to relieve ourselves in the jungle. There used to be a lot of diseases, but now it is much easier.” Their neighbours also spoke of fearing snake bites when they had no option but to defecate outside.

The latrines are a combination of single and double pit latrines. Single pit latrines are emptied manually (by a mason) and double pit latrines have two pits, so that when one is full, the other pit can be used while the full pit is left to compost.