The EXPLAINER, Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS)

Summary

The CTS program focuses on behavioral change in communities, emphasizing the importance of latrines and sanitation rather than imposing forced infrastructure. It involves collaboration between the County Department of Health and local health counterparts to promote public health, particularly in villages with open defecation. The program aims to make these areas open defecation-free by 2020, with a special focus on ASAL counties where the pastoralist population faces challenges. The initiative seeks to eliminate communicable diseases like diarrhea through improved sanitation practices.

Takeaways

• 😀 CTS focuses on behavior change in communities to raise awareness about the importance of latrines and sanitation.
• 😀 The program aims to improve sanitation rather than force communities to build latrines.
• 😀 Coordination occurs between the County Department of Health and local counterparts to promote public health activities in villages.
• 😀 Villages targeted by the program are mapped out by the county, focusing on areas with a history of open defecation.
• 😀 The main objective for 2020 was to have open defecation-free villages, but the effort is ongoing.
• 😀 ASAL (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands) counties, where pastoralist populations reside, are a priority area for the program.
• 😀 The goal is to put measures in place to ensure the eradication of communicable diseases, particularly diarrhea.
• 😀 The program continues to push for open defecation-free status in these areas despite challenges.
• 😀 The focus is not just on constructing latrines but on changing attitudes and behaviors around sanitation.
• 😀 The program aims to create lasting changes in sanitation practices to reduce the spread of diseases like diarrhea.

Q & A

What is the focus of the CTS initiative?

The CTS initiative focuses on promoting behavioral change in communities, raising awareness about the importance of latrines and sanitation, rather than enforcing the construction of latrines.

How does the CTS program work in coordination with local health authorities?

The county Department of Health coordinates with counterparts at the W level, who manage health promotion activities in villages. These counterparts are responsible for public health initiatives in village areas.

What type of villages are targeted by the CTS program?

The program targets villages where open defecation is prevalent, and these villages are identified and mapped by the county.

What is the target goal for open defecation in the program?

The target goal is to achieve open defecation-free status by 2020, although efforts are still ongoing to reach this objective, particularly in ASAL counties.

What challenges are faced in achieving open defecation-free status in ASAL counties?

The main challenge in ASAL counties is the large pastoralist population, which requires additional efforts to ensure they adopt measures that improve sanitation and prevent open defecation.

Why is it important to focus on eliminating open defecation in these areas?

Eliminating open defecation is important because it helps prevent communicable diseases, such as diarrhea, which are spread through poor sanitation and hygiene practices.

How are the communities educated about the importance of sanitation?

Communities are educated through health promotion activities conducted by the Department of Health and their counterparts at the village level, focusing on raising awareness about the benefits of using latrines.

What is the role of the county Department of Health in the program?

The county Department of Health plays a coordinating role, working with local health authorities to oversee and support the implementation of the sanitation initiative at the community level.

What disease is specifically targeted for eradication through improved sanitation?

Diarrhea, which is a communicable disease spread through poor sanitation, is specifically targeted for eradication through improved sanitation practices.

How is the program addressing the sanitation needs of the pastoralist population?

The program is working to ensure that pastoralist communities in ASAL counties adopt measures to improve sanitation, which includes promoting the use of latrines and raising awareness about the risks of open defecation.