2018WinterPipeline2

Mali: Healthy Communities Program
n WaterAid Canada embarked on an ambitious project to transform lives through water,
sanitation and hygiene in the ati and la districts of central Mali. Together, thanks to
generous supporters like SWW change is now happening. Toilets are being built, hygiene
practices are changing and soon, even more communities will have access to safe water.
n Mali and around the world midwives have a challenging role in helping to ensure the safe
delivery of babies. Without access to clean water and soap in healthcare clinics, this critical job
becomes much more challenging. Ami works as a midwife at the health centre in Dougouolo,
Mali. She is in charge of prenatal consultations, delivery, postnatal consultations and family
planning. She has seen first hand the impact that the Mali: Healthy Communities program
has had on the health centre staff and patients. New water taps, washbasins and latrines were
installed inside the delivery room and new taps were provided in the yard of the healthcare
centre.
WaterAid/B.Ouedraogo
Abdou Sogoba, 50, head of
household, posing with two of his
children in his compound, in the
Circle of Bla, Mali.
“Now there is a change thanks to the project support. We have tap stands in the yard of the
health centre and we have taps inside the clinic rooms for our various needs. With these taps
everywhere, we can easily have clean water to drink, wash our hands and clean the materials.
The maternity ward has a tap, a washbasin and clean water available inside. So there is no need
for me to leave the room to seek water while a woman in is labour needs my assistance. This is
a valuable improvement to our working conditions and it contributes to preventing some
infections and it helps us save time and energy to take care of patients. mi
Ami, 45, midwife in the health
centre of Dougouolo has
running water and soap now to
wash her hands inside the clinic.
“I decided to invest and get a good latrine”
Abdou Sogoba and his family live in the village of Toukoro, Mali. They had a traditional latrine
in their compound that was simply a hole enclosed by some pieces of wood. hen the wood
rotted and crumbled, the family was left without a toilet. nfortunately, this scenario is not
uncommon in rural ali.
Abdou decided to participate in some community meetings that were happening in his village.
hese meetings, part of the ommunity ed otal anitation approach, bring
communities together to discuss their hygiene and sanitation situation and the effects poor
hygiene has on their health. hese meetings are the first step in encouraging community-led
action to build toilets and eliminate open defecation. Abdou learned about different types of
latrines and realized he needed a more solid and safe option for him and his family. e
decided to invest and build a new latrine with a an lat or anitation latform slab, an
improvement from the traditional latrine he had before.
WaterAid/B.Ouedraogo
ur research has shown in several countries around the world, that the decision needs to first
come from the individual that they want and see value in a toilet for their family.
Abdou himself was not convinced that he wanted to invest his money in a latrine until he
participated in the community meetings and in a WaterAid hygiene education session. Abdou
recogni ed that he had the funds needed, he ust had been lacking the knowledge and
knowhow. he crumbling of his former traditional latrine followed by the awareness he gained
through the meetings motivated Abdou to invest in an improved latrine for his family.
ince I got the new improved latrine built, I feel at ease using it. I m glad to use it. All the
family members are proud of it. Everyone uses it. I appreciate the fact that the hole for
defecation is always closed. I think that with this improved latrine, we can avoid contracting
some diseases.” - Abdou