Zambia is well on track for achieving a nation where all users have access to water and sanitation by 2030, and specifically aims to realize an open defecation free Zambia by 2020. This is thanks in part to the success of the Community Led Total Sanitation approach being currently implemented in 68 of its 92 rural districts by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, under the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme, and with support from UNICEF and the government’s local NGO partners. Just over the past three years, the coverage in the 68 rural districts has changed from 33 percent to 76 percent according to the National Management Information System.
Chienge District, bordering the Congo in the north of Zambia, has recently marked a milestone achievement for the CLTS efforts by being verified as the first Open Defecation Free District in all of Zambia. At the momentous celebration, National CLTS Coach Leonard Mukosha said, “CLTS has helped 2.3 million Zambians to enjoy improved sanitation and the results of CLTS are clear to see. For example, in 2013, Chienge district recorded 284 cases of Cholera with nine deaths. After vigorously implementing CLTS, the district, which was one of the 11 cholera-endemic areas, has not recorded any case of the disease since 2013.”
Story and Photo Source: UNICEF Zambia
Date: May 13, 2015
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