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The Maa Trust (TMT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), trained 21 Olemoncho Village residents to be Trainers of Trainers (TOT) in good sanitation and hygiene using the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) process last week. This training was made possible by funds donated by Zonta International to make the Olemoncho community an Open Defection Free (ODF) village.
CLTS is a community-led initiative that aims to eliminate open defecation (OD). Communities are assisted in conducting their own OD appraisal and analysis and taking action to become an ODF village.
The training was held at Olemoncho Village with key community opinion leaders in attendance. While the community had the opportunity to learn, they also had the opportunity to ask questions about their newly acquired knowledge and the importance of building toilets to improve their hygiene.
The goals of this training were as follows:
i. Improved sanitation and hygiene practices among community members;
ii. Reduced fecal-oral transmission of disease-causing pathogens;
iii. Lower child mortality rates as a result of sanitation diseases;
iv. Contribution to poverty alleviation, for example, money spent on medical services as a result of sanitation-related diseases can be used for other purposes;
v. Increased school attendance Children are especially vulnerable to sanitation diseases that disrupt their school attendance.
TMT and Public Health Officer (PHO) Aitong will provide ongoing support to the 21 members as they train other members of the community.
“Building and using a toilet in the home will help save money and lives. In Maasai Mara, there is a high prevalence of sanitation-related diseases. When the cost of hospital bills is compared to the cost of building and maintaining a toilet, having a toilet is less expensive.” PHO Aitong, Derrick Sikawa.
Zonta International believes in making the world a better place by empowering women. They find joy in doing this in a supportive community of like-minded professionals from diverse countries and cultures. Zonta has successfully empowered women worldwide through service and advocacy for more than 100 years. Click here to learn more about Zonta, including their vision of a more equal world, global leadership, and new partnerships such as TMT that help them work toward that vision every day.
TMT is grateful to Zonta International for its collaboration in empowering Maasai communities.
To partner with The Maa Trust for this or any other project, click here to donate or send an email to, info@themaatrust.org.