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95% of household toilets in Rwanda are pit latrines, 89% being improved with a concrete floor. Only 3.4% of households have a flush toilet. Despite the high adoption of improved household toilets, further progress in sanitation is limited only partly by lack of knowledge around better toilets and mainly by the availability and expense of alternatives to an open-pit latrine.
AEE Rwanda is addressing these gaps through the promotion of market-based sanitation projects. This project, in partnership with Tearfund, created community hygiene clubs from the savings groups established by previous projects. AEE is delivering sanitation training through these clubs to increase the demand for better toilets and at the same time helping local businesses acquire the knowledge and stock to supply sanitation products at shops close to the groups’ homes.
Aristide, a local shop owner, with a SATO toilet pan.
The toilets, designed by the SATO social enterprise, are installed in a concrete slab over the existing, or newly dug, pit-latrine structure. Being durable plastic, they are easy to clean, equipped with a self- closing flap to exclude flies and odors, and come in variants that accommodate people with mobility restrictions who cannot easily use a squat style toilet.
Easy access to sanitation products from a store within walking distance is essential to long-term improvements in community sanitation. AEE connects with store owners local to project areas who are interested in expanding their business to the supply of toilets and cleaning products. Aristide, a local shop owner says,
“Before the project, I was selling school materials and stationery. Then AEE provided training on different sanitation and hygiene products. The SATO products were new to me. So, I brought these SATO products and the toilet cleaning chemicals. I invested my own money, but AEE provided the demonstration kits for us to learn about and market the sanitation products. Even the training AEE gave us was a great
contribution to our business.
“The products most customers buy from this shop are bar and liquid soaps, toilet cleaning chemicals, sanitary pads, and toilet paper. The fact that we continue selling out of these products indicates that we make profits. Again, AEE continues to mobilize and our customers continue to contribute to our sales. And, the products we are selling are the basic products needed by every member of the community.”
Alphonsine has experienced the benefits that improved hygiene practices and a SATO toilet can bring.
“I have noticed a change after starting the adoption of better sanitation and hygiene practices. Before, my children would fall sick from hygiene-related diseases, even be admitted to hospital. So, the benefits I see is my children are sick less and I’m not spending time and money taking them to the hospital for treatment.When I took my children to hospital with diarrheal diseases, I once spent 20,000 RWF. Our toilet has cost around 70,000 RWF.
“Our toilet is clean now! What we do here at home, we take care of hygiene by cleaning the toilet and everybody at home has the responsibility to clean the toilet. Everyone also has to clean their hands after using the toilet.We also wash our hands before preparing meals.And now, my husband knows well that when I attend the savings group and the sanitation group, I come back with new ideas.
“Some of our neighbors have not yet improved their toilets. Some have just bought into the idea and are in the process of starting to improve their toilet while others simply do not have the means or still resist the idea. I worry that children from families that have not yet adopted good sanitation and hygiene behaviors and improved their toilets could contaminate my children, and this is actually motivating me to continue my efforts to tell them about sanitation.”
Augustin is a former army drill instructor, and at 96 years is still ready to show off his drill skills. But the simple toll of age has made using an older style pit latrine very difficult for both him and his wife Consolate, 63 years. Consolate tells,
“I have improved our toilet. Its slab was before made up of timber, so I have improved it and have installed a SATO stool which helps my husband who is a person with a disability. It is also helpful for me in my advanced age. Our previous toilet’s slab was made of wood and it was not easy to use for either of us.This toilet has really changed our lives. It is now clean. Flies no longer get out of the toilet and flood our compound, making us sick. So, the toilet with a SATO stool has helped us a lot.”
Augustin, 96, with his wife and carer, Consolate, 63
Toilets that are simple, well designed, and affordable - combined with a commitment to household and personal hygiene - make an enourmous difference to families' health and wellbeing. The community hygiene clubs' savings programs make it possible to outlay the cost of a new toilet. As Alphonsine explained, this upfront cost is quickly recouped in avoided medical fees and a healthy family that misses fewer days of school and work.
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