Hoengee and her children work to preserve their village, liberated from open defecation
The village of Ekaroky Centre in the South of Madagascar has been free from open defecation since 2021. Some families, like Hoengee and her six children, are committed to maintaining this status.
Hoengee and her six children are actively involved in preserving their village's Open Defecation Free status, achieved in 2021. In the small village of Ekaroky Centre in South Madagascar, they advocate for the use of clean latrines, serving as role models for their neighbors after experiencing the harmful consequences of open defecation, including waterborne diseases.
The family had practiced open defecation for several years, leading to numerous instances of diarrheal and waterborne diseases. Hoengee recalls, "We used to defecate openly without understanding the harmful consequences of these practices." A significant turning point occurred when Hoengee suffered from diarrhea due to not washing her hands with soap after open defecation. She had to spend her savings on medications, impacting her family's life as they struggled to afford food. Hoengee felt guilty that her children couldn't eat properly.
In 2021, Hoengee and her children embraced interventions by UNICEF's implementing partners to encourage villagers to stop open defecation. They were trained in latrine construction, handwashing techniques, and the use of a handwashing device. Today, the family works to maintain their progress. While constructing latrines with available resources, they regularly reinforce them to withstand regional challenges, such as rain. Hoengee emphasizes the importance of health, stating, "Being healthy contributes to improving our lives, and we place a great deal of emphasis on the importance of using fly-proof or anti-fly latrines." She concludes, "Now, my family and I encourage our neighbors to use latrines and raise awareness in our community so that every household in our village builds a latrine."
