Summary:
- The Ministry of Health launches a three-year, $5 million project to address open defecation and poor sanitation in seven districts of Uganda. The initiative aims to build over 500 toilets and promote community involvement in maintaining clean environments.
The Ministry of Health has initiated a three-year, $5 million project (approximately Shs19.4 billion) to combat open defecation and inadequate sanitation in seven districts with poor health indicators.
Despite recent findings from the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey indicating that at least eight percent of the population still practices open defecation and over 60 percent lack proper sanitation facilities, this project aims to address these pressing issues.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Health Minister, revealed that the funding for the project is sourced from the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund via the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), supplemented by a $1.5 million counterpart funding from the Ugandan government.
The project launch coincided with the start of this year’s Sanitation Week, themed “Sanitation and hygiene for all: A key to sustainable healthy living.” Dr. Aceng emphasized the importance of community involvement in maintaining a clean and healthy environment, stressing that empowering communities is vital for successful intervention.
This project, which targets a population of 2,351,440 people across seven districts including Buikwe, Buyende, Kabarole, Kamuli, Kayunga, Luuka, and Kole, will see the construction of over 500 toilets. Dr. Herbert Nabaasa, the Commissioner of Environmental Health, outlined plans for results-based financing and community engagement to ensure sustainable sanitation practices.
Acknowledging the support of the governments of the Netherlands and Sweden, Dr. Aceng commended their contributions to expanding Uganda’s investment in sanitation and hygiene.
Dr. Munir Safieldin, representing development partners such as UNICEF, affirmed their commitment to supporting Uganda’s sanitation and hygiene efforts, highlighting past achievements in infrastructure development and the attainment of open defecation-free status in numerous communities.
