The environment in which humans live has a significant bearing on the health and well-being of individuals and communities. This implies that the health of the environment has direct impact on the health of all creatures that survive in it, calling for a One Health approach in solving environmental challenges.
With the ever-increasing population coupled with poor urban planning, poor waste disposal and poor sanitation are emerging threats in new settlements. This was raised by Shalott Masika Asaaba, a student at Makerere University pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree. In her 2-week attachment at Katta village found in Nangabo sub-county, Wakiso district, Asaaba called for improving waste management and changing the perception of the community members towards general sanitation as a collective responsibility.
Working together with the community to identify health challenges in Katta Village, limited access to clean water, poor hygiene and sanitation-related health problems such as typhoid, poor waste disposal, poor sanitation and poverty were listed. The list was assessed to address a top priority community challenge and poor sanitation took the lead.
“I conducted door to door visits to 23 households with the help of local leaders to identify the challenges faced by the community. It was discovered that some households did not have pit latrines, and those that had could hardly clean them well. This was due to limited access to clean water. The community has only one well from where to collect water. It is a great challenge that the community does not have a specific place where domestic garbage can be properly disposed.” Asaaba stated.
During her intervention meeting, convening at Katta C/U Primary School with community members and local authorities headed by Mrs. Mariam Auma the L.C.I Chairperson, appropriate strategies were designed to address the challenge using available resources in the community. They agreed to have sensitization programs aimed at improving waste disposal and the perception of the community members towards sanitation. They agreed that it was only through collectively working together; the community, the professionals and leaders, that the challenge of poor sanitation could be effectively improved.
The program involved meetings and using door-to-door approach to engage the households in community cleaning. About 12 people participated including elders, youth leaders and Mr. Joshua Muwanguzi, the Headteacher of Katta C/U Primary School. The school administrator requested for a cleaning session at the school, where people were guided on how to clean their latrines. Other activities included slashing the school playground and collecting the littered waste around the school.
To make the program sustainable, a committee consisting of 6 people was formed to implement these activities. They promised to mobilize more people, especially the women to carry out frequent general cleaning.
Asaaba thanked Makerere University, One Health Institute under AFROHUN for availing her the opportunity to serve and be relevant to her community. She acknowledged the invaluable skills attained during her field attachment working with local authorities, youth leaders and other community stakeholders. Asaaba was able to acquire communication, problem-solving and management skills. Her attachment lasted from 26th July to 6th August, 2021 under the supervision of Mr. Tom Ngabirano of Makerere University.