New latrines help end open defecation in Kalangba

Children celebrate the development of new latrines in Kalangba village

12 May 2008: People in Kalangba village, Port Loko, constructed latrines with locally made materials such as mud bricks, sticks and palm fronds to ease the problem of open defecation which has been affecting them for years.

“Since the establishment of the village, there has never been any toilet facility,” said J.B. Amara, Chairman of the Port Loko District Council.

More than 2,200,000 children die every year around the world - that is 4 every minute - as a result of diarrhoea caused by poor sanitation and hygiene.

Plan action

Plan conceptualised the project and encouraged the communities to be part of the 'open defecation-free programme'.

“We can now hope for a better future of the village due to the developments that have started to come”, said community elder, Pa Idrissa Sesay.

“Before we were using the bush as a toilet but today I am very proud to say thanks to Plan for facilitating such a project”, added Pa Sorie, village headman.

“Our village is now clean and could be safe from diarrhoea and cholera outbreaks”, said Ramatu, 15, of Kalangba.

Children and other community people celebrated the project's development.

Read about Plan's global work on water and sanitation