TONY IROGA
A community leader from Popoloi village in Ghaobata Ward, North Guadalcanal Constituency, says a practical sanitation training programme has equipped him with the knowledge and confidence to help end open defecation in his community.
Speaking to Island Sun during an interview at Ghaobata Community High School over the weekend, Ferguson Jimmy said the artisan training programme has transformed his understanding of rural sanitation and inspired him to share the skills with others when he returns home.
“Open defecation is beginning to come to an end because of this artisan training programme.
“This is my first time participating, and I have gained a lot of valuable knowledge and practical skills that I can now take back to my community,” Jimmy said.
The artisan training is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) through UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ Environmental Health Division and the Guadalcanal Provincial Government.
He described the training as highly practical and relevant to rural communities, saying participants were taught how to construct affordable and durable household sanitation facilities using locally available materials.
“When I return home, I will train my community members on everything I have learned.
“I want every family to practice proper sanitation and eventually have their own toilets,” he said.
He said one of the programme’s biggest strengths is its focus on low-cost construction methods.
“The skills we learned are affordable because we can use materials that are readily available in our villages, such as loose timber, old tyres, stones and other local resources instead of expensive building materials.
“This makes the technology suitable for our rural way of life,” he said.
He said the training differed significantly from previous sanitation awareness programmes conducted in his community because it included hands-on practical sessions.
“In the past, we received training that was mostly theory.
“This time we were shown step by step how to build toilet slabs, install SATO pans, mix cement, cut and measure pipes, and construct toilets using a locally designed septic system,” he said.
The locally designed septic system uses tyres and stones to form underground chambers and has been adapted for communities with limited access to water. He said the design is particularly suitable for villages located near rivers and flood-prone areas.
“The septic system designed by UNICEF Project Officer Erick Hale is well suited to our environment and climate.
“It is practical for communities like ours where water supply is limited and flooding can be a challenge,” he said.
He expressed confidence that his community will continue to implement the sanitation initiative with the ongoing support of KOICA, UNICEF and government partners.
He also acknowledged KOICA, UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Guadalcanal Provincial Government and other stakeholders for delivering the training to rural communities.
“We are grateful to all our partners for bringing this programme to us. It is improving health standards in our communities and will benefit people throughout Solomon Islands,” he said.
Photo credit: Tony Iroga
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