A Path to Recovery: Sanitation interventions

A remarkable recovery is underway in the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi in the Kalehe Territory of South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. After floods devastated the region, damaging individual and community sanitation facilities in early May 2023, World Vision mobilized to deliver critical sanitation infrastructure and hygiene support that have improved public health and restored dignity to thousands of families.

In the aftermath of the floods, World Vision worked with leaders and inhabitants of Bushushu and Nyamukubi to determine the location of the sanitary facilities, with the intent of meeting the community's needs as effectively and as quickly as possible.

In August 2023, World Vision began building more than 290 latrine blocks, 290 emergency family showers, and 12 latrines in local schools and health centers. These facilities were designed to meet the needs of all, including those with reduced mobility.

The results of a combined approach of infrastructure and awareness-raising were immediate. By September 2023, diarrheal cases had fallen by 75 per cent in Bushushu.

In addition to the sanitation infrastructure, World Vision distributed WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) kits to more than 1,200 families. These kits, which contained essential hygiene supplies, were crucial for preventing disease. The floods had destroyed local sanitation systems, leaving families without basic necessities. With these kits, families could maintain hygiene and reduce the risk of disease transmission.

Local schools and health centers also received additional sanitation materials to ensure that even communal areas maintained minimum hygiene standards. These efforts protected the most vulnerable members of the community, particularly children and women.

World Vision also held awareness-raising sessions on proper hygiene practices. These sessions empowered the community to take an active role in safeguarding their health, making the project's outcomes more sustainable.  

While the trauma of the floods lingers, WASH efforts in Bushushu and Nyamukubi have set these communities on a path to recovery. With the support of the Government of Canada through the Humanitarian Coalition, our member World Vision Canada helped create an environment where residents could prevent diseases, stay healthy, safe, and better equipped to handle future challenges.