Mzimba, Malawi – Nellie Mtonga from Chimanga Machila Langa Village of Manyamula Agriculture Extension Planning Area in Malawi’s northern district of Mzimba will no longer be bothered with the encumbrance of erecting a new latrine regularly as has been the trend.
Every two to three years, Mtonga constructs a new latrine to succeed the previous one, which filled up quickly. However, with the provision of a Fossa Alterna toilet that is expected to last a lifetime, Mtonga has been relieved of the burden.
Mtonga was selected to receive the support needed to build a modern sanitary facility through the Manyamula Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Project implemented in rural Malawi by Find Your Feet (FYF), a Non-Governmental Organization that works with rural families “in Asia and Africa to build a future free from hunger, poverty, and discrimination”.
The project provided building materials such as iron sheets, nails, cement, etc. for the construction of the toilet.
“I am happy to have this kind of a latrine, which has eased the burden of constructing a new latrine on regular basis. As you can see this latrine has two holes which mean that for the rest of my life I will be switching between the holes,” Mtonga told Rural Reporters in a recent interview.
The Fossa Alterna toilet that Mtonga has is among the 15 alternative latrines that were built through the Manyamula WASH project as a demonstration to show how rural communities can improve their hygiene and sanitation.
The cost of constructing a modern latrine is too expensive for individuals to afford on their own. But the satisfaction derived from existing project inspired groups in the community to mobilize resources needed to adopt the technology of Fossa Alterna latrines. In place of iron sheets, they thatch the roof with grasses and then opt for mud instead of using cement on the foundation. This helped reduce the construction cost from K145, 000 (around US$200) to K40, 000 (around US$60).
“These toilets are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Once constructed, the household simply alternates between holes,” said FYF’s project officer, Sain Mskambo.
The introduction of Fossa Alterna toilet system is also helping villages achieve the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, which refers to a state in which no human faeces are openly exposed to the air, according to Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), an organization that works with poor people, NGOs, governments, and local entrepreneurs to improve sanitation and hygiene.