FOREWORD

Improved sanitation, in its widest context is as vital for health as clean water. Its implementation is a task of the same magnitude and complexity. Ignoring this may lead to investments and other development efforts failing to result in improved health.

The population in rural and peri-urban areas are exposed to serious environmental hazards because of the lack of or improper use of toilets. This is specially true around market places (where principally food is sold) around bus terminals, dispensaries and schools. Given that medical services in general are insufficient, that nutrition and the general health status of the population is poor, the effect on public health is serious. The situation is dramatically illustrated by occasional outbreaks of cholera.

Much has been written about why we need a clean environment, and the awareness is growing. Our knowledge of how to protect our environment is limited, however. The initiative by the HESAWA Programme Management to initiate the workshop and the elaboration of this manual is therefore an important step in the process towards better environmental sanitation in public areas. It is our hope that this booklet shall become a useful tool in this important work.

Björn Brandberg