By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Lungi, Sierra Leone — In a significant stride towards improving public health and sanitation, four chiefdoms in Sierra Leone—Loko Masama in Port Loko District, Kargboro in Falaba District, Serabu in Moyamba District, and Wara Wara Yagala in Koinadugu District—were officially declared open defecation-free (ODF) on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
World Toilet Day Celebration
The certification ceremony, coinciding with World Toilet Day, was hosted at the Hassanatu Multi-Complex in Lungi under the theme, “Toilets: A Place for Peace.” Attendees included representatives from UNICEF, government ministries, and key stakeholders. Schoolchildren and traditional musicians added color to the event with performances and stories highlighting the transformation brought by improved sanitation.
Community Transformation
The achievement followed years of community sensitization and behavior change programs aimed at eradicating open defecation, which had been a common practice in these regions. Residents shared personal accounts of the health improvements linked to building and using toilets.
Unisa Bangura of Loko Masama Chiefdom expressed gratitude for the changes:
“We no longer practice open defecation. Having a toilet has kept my household healthier and safer.”
UNICEF’s Support
Rudolf Schwenk, UNICEF’s Sierra Leone Country Representative, praised the milestone, emphasizing its importance in achieving nationwide sanitation goals.
“This is a major step forward. Sanitation is essential for peace and public health,” Schwenk stated, while noting that access to basic sanitation remains a challenge for many Sierra Leoneans.
Launch of National Sanitation Guidelines
During the event, Zainab Buya Kamara, Senior Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, launched the National Fecal Sludge Management Guidelines to enhance sanitation solutions.
Commitment to ODF Sustainability
Traditional leaders pledged to enforce bylaws against open defecation to maintain ODF status. The Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Haja Isata Abdulai, highlighted the economic benefits of clean environments, particularly for the fishing industry, which contributes 12% to the national GDP.
The success of these four chiefdoms sets a benchmark for other districts to follow, demonstrating how community-led efforts can drive transformative change in public health and sanitation.
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