Villages in Wau and Jur River Declared free of Open Defecation

Deep in the heart of South Sudan’s communities where a vibrant pulse of life beats strongest, a total of nine villages in Wau and Jur River Counties of Western Bahr El Ghazal State, are celebrating a significant milestone after nine villages were declared free of open defecation.
This pit latrine built with local materials, represents the community’s shift from open defecation to improved sanitation facilities, reducing the risk of disease in Jur River County in Abuo Village.

By Jenifer James

Deep in the heart of South Sudan’s communities where a vibrant pulse of life beats strongest, a total of nine villages in Wau and Jur River Counties of Western Bahr El Ghazal State, are celebrating a significant milestone after nine villages were declared free of open defecation.

The villages of Khor Lemon, Birinji Centre, Gonva, Fawilli, and Fanowu in Wau County and Abuo, Apulao, Thurbango, Tia-Tiap in Jur River County officially given – ODF status in late August 2024.

This announcement marked transformative moment for the local communities here, bringing with it a sense of pride and fresh air both literally and figuratively.

Despite the large crowd, the air remained fresh, a welcome change from the past unpleasant odours. The bad memories of stumbling upon someone relieving themselves in the bushes or open spaces are now a thing of the past.

This landmark called for community celebration, evident by the jubilant traditional dances performed by local women and young girls. Their joyful dances were a testament to their embrace of the WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) campaign.

This change is the result of ongoing efforts by USAID to promote sanitation and hygiene under Afia WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) activity, which aims to reduce the spread of fecal-oral diseases and improve public health through better hygiene practices and safe drinking water.

According to UNICEF, over 800 children under the age of five die every day from diarrhea-related diseases caused by a lack of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Women from Wau and Jur River counties in South Sudan celebrate their villages’ declaration of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status with traditional dances and vibrant attire. This joyous occasion marks a significant milestone in improving sanitation, hygiene, and community health through the USAID-supported Afia WASH initiative.

The State Ministry, Directorate of Public Utilities, and Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, House and Urban Planning conducted an external verification exercise from June 21-24, 2024, confirming the villages’ ODF status. This achievement represents a major step forward in the region’s sanitation efforts.

The announcement signaled a bright future for people like 14-year-old Ann Amanya, a community heroine teaching local mothers and children the importance of washing hands after using the toilet. Her home now boasts pit latrines, simple structures made of locally sourced materials that help contain human waste, reducing the spread of diseases like diarrhea and cholera.

On the day, Baggari Payam hosted a delegation of government officials and representatives from WASH partners, Amanya demonstrated handwashing techniques using locally made soap. Her role highlighted the community’s determination to combat disease while echoing the resolve of her fellow villagers who have joined in the effort to improve hygiene.

Open defecation can cause severe health problems, including diarrhea and cholera, which are significant global public health threats. The CDC estimates that these diseases result in between 1.3 million and 4.0 million cases and between 21,000 and 143,000 deaths worldwide each year.

The Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) initiative, implemented by USAID’s Afia WASH project, covers five counties: Wau and Jur River in Western Bahr El Ghazal State, Kapoeta North and Budi in Eastern Equatoria State, and Akobo in Jonglei State. The five Western Bahr El Ghazal villages were declared ODF after a thorough verification report conducted from June 21-24, 2024. In total the project has achieved ODF in about seventeen villages.

This cultural shift is not only improving daily lives but also setting an example for others. Traditional practices that allowed open defecation led to health issues and contamination. Now, with more people constructing their own latrines, the steady progress signifies better access to improved sanitation facilities and related hygiene behavior changes.

“I didn’t know that a fly could carry germs from the bush and affect our health. Today, I understand that defecating in the bush is very bad for our health. I am grateful for the training and support we received from our partners,” said Halima Waragah.

The 65-year-old mother of five noted that before constructing a toilet, her home was surrounded by the foul smell of open defecation sites. The addition of a pit latrine has brought dignity and decency to her family’s living conditions.

“Before, we used to defecate in the bushes and flies were everywhere. Now we have pit latrines in the community. We are very happy about this new development,” said another resident of Baggari Village, urging others to dig more latrines.

With more people in Baggari Village now constructing their own latrines, the steady cultural shift signifies progress in access to and use of improved sanitation facilities and related hygiene behavior changes.

To build on this success, the State Ministry of Health and Urban Planning recommends addressing remaining minor gaps and continuing to promote good sanitation and hygiene practices. Communities are encouraged to engage with local authorities for additional resources and support to scale up CLTS initiatives.

“As a Sultan, I can now walk barefoot in this village without stepping on human waste. We no longer have reports of ‘your child defecating on my farm or near my house’; that issue is gone,” said Michael Sabino, a local leader in Baggari Payam.

The sub chief hopes that the community, especially those building new homes, will continue the positive trend by digging their own pit latrines and passing on this new culture to future generations.

Households are also encouraged to complete latrines with proper superstructures to ensure privacy and protection from the weather, and to continue follow-up and hygiene messaging to strengthen handwashing practices and maintain the ODF status achieved in greater parts of Western Bahr El Ghazal State.Top of Form

USAID-funded Afia WASH Project aims to improve health and household resilience in South Sudan by expanding access to safe drinking water, basic sanitation, and promoting key hygiene behaviors.

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