Turkana: The Department of Health and Sanitation in Turkana is preparing to launch the second phase of the Kenya Sanitation Enabling Environment Project (KSSEP), targeting 209 villages in Turkana West and Turkana South sub-counties through community-led total sanitation (CLTS) initiatives. This phase aims to foster behavioral changes that could help eliminate open defecation in these areas.
According to Kenya News Agency, more than 30 Public Health Officers (PHOs) and Community Health Assistants (CHAs) from the targeted sub-counties are currently being trained on the KSSEP II Project. The project, in collaboration with Peace Winds Japan and funded by UNICEF Kenya, aims to certify 75 villages in Turkana South, including Aroo Sub-County, and 134 villages in Turkana West, including Lokichoggio, as open defecation-free (ODF) zones within the next two years.
Director of Public Health and Sanitation Alfred Emanman, while inaugurating the training session, stressed the necessity of collective behavior change in combating diseases linked to poor sanitation. “All of us must change unsanitary practices for the risk of faecal contamination to be eliminated,” he stated.
County Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Coordinator Reuben Kibyego highlighted that the training also encompasses solid waste management, with an emphasis on proper disposal practices. He noted that the training is designed to improve participants’ understanding of CLTS principles and practices, including its monitoring and evaluation tools.
Kosar Mohammed, a WASH Assistant from Peace Winds Japan, underscored the significance of real-time monitoring to track the progress of the CLTS implementation and evaluate the project’s overall impact.