By: Mohamed Sahr Mohamedsahrpro@Gmail.Com
Sanitation forms part of the Human Right Architecture adopted by United Nations for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal with premium on Goal Six which is clean water and sanitation; why access to clean water and toilets is wholeheartedly an essential for all Sierra Leoneans. World Health Organization estimated in 2019 that only 13.8% of Sierra Leoneans have access to safely managed sanitation services. This means that a majority of the population does not have access to toilets that safely separate human waste from human contact. It is not a gainsaying that this lack of safe sanitation poses a significant public health risk, as it can lead to the spread of disease and infection. In order to improve public health in Sierra Leone, it is crucial to increase access to safely managed sanitation services. However, there are a number of impediments to the progress of attaining GOAL 6 ahead of the United Nations’ finish line.
Importantly, one of the biggest challenges facing sanitation in Sierra Leone is the lack of proper infrastructure. Many rural and urban communities do not have a sewer system, and those that do often have inadequate capacity to handle the population’s needs. On that note, the lack of infrastructure makes it difficult to ensure that human waste is safely disposed of and kept away from human contact. World Health Organization and UNICEF joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) report in 2019 spoke on the relevance of the country’s sanitation and hygiene mobilization with focus on the significant gap in terms of safely used sanitation services in Sierra Leone. However, World Bank recent study found that more than 60% of Sierra Leoneans do not have access to improved sanitation facilities, and that the lack of proper sanitation facilities cost the country an estimated 46 million Dollars per year in economic losses. The study found that children and people living in rural areas are mostly affected by the lack of sanitation facilities.
Furthermore, cultural upheaval has affected safely managed sanitation services in the country. Some traditional beliefs hold that contact with human waste is a taboo and can lead to sickness. As a result, people may to avoid using toilets or other sanitation facilities, which can lead to poor sanitation conditions. That is to say, traditional attitudes about gender roles can make it difficult for women to access and use sanitation facilities. It is evidence that women are often expected to take care of the home and family, and are not given the same level of autonomy as men. As a result, women may not have the time or the resources to access sanitation facilities. This can lead to woman having to resort to open defecation, which may increase the risk of disease. UNICEF and World Bank in 2019 found that in Sierra Leone women are more likely than men to lack access to improved sanitation facilities. The study cited a number of reasons including traditional beliefs about gender roles, lack of decision-making power for women and the women vulnerability to poor access to safe sanitation.
In another word, lack of financing is a major challenge for sanitation infrastructure in Sierra Leone. It is crystal clear that the country’s budget for sanitation is limited, and most of the financing comes from international donors. This emphasizes that the government pays less priority to fund the construction and maintenance of sanitation facilities at the level that is needed couple with the limited capacity to monitor and enforce sanitation regulations. Owing to this, many sanitation facilities are poorly constructed or not maintained, that which can lead to health risk for the population. UNICEF has found out that only half of all water and sanitation facilities in Sierra Leone are in good condition. In 2015, International Finance Corporation (IFC) observed that Sierra Leone has one of the lowest levels of only about 28% of the population having access to improved sanitation. IFC also added that only 5% of the population had access to a reliable water supply, and only 20% of rural communities have access to any kind of sanitation facility. Despite the fact that Sierra Leone has made some progress in recent years, there has been focus on improving access to water and sanitation through programs like the Rapid Urban Development Plan that scales up the access to safely managed sanitation services across the country.
Notwithstanding, lack of coordination among government agencies and development partners is another prominent obstacle for sanitation in the country. This challenge exemplifies that government may be focusing to track progress towards sanitation targets or in another word ensure that fund are being spent accordingly and effectively for transmitting proper sanitation across various communities. By so doing, it can lead to duplication of efforts, wasted resources and the lack of effective monitoring and evaluation systems.
Finally, ineffective regulations or enforcement mechanism to ensure that sanitation standards are met. These are one of the key reasons for sanitation in Sierra Leone. For instance, many sanitation facilities do not meet the minimum standards set by the government, but there are no mechanisms in place to ensure that these standards are met. This gives the view that there is no accountability or incentive for service providers to meet the standards. UNICEF and WHO 2017 highlighted the sanitation ladder categorizes into five levels, with level 5 being the most advanced. Sierr Leone is currently at level 3, which means that basic services are in place but need improvement. Progress towards higher levels require effective regulations and enforcement mechanisms, as well as increased investment in sanitation infrastructure and services.
Despite these challenges for the safely managed sanitation services in Sierra Leone, however, chances are great for the country to rebound particularly with regards to solutions to these cusps. Prominent among them is investing in infrastructure and services such as toilets, latrines and waste management systems. For example there is a need for more toilets and latrines, especially in rural areas where many people still practice open defecation. In addition, there is a need for improved waste management systems, including the collection and disposal of solid waste. Improving infrastructure and services can help to improve sanitation and reduce the risk of disease.
Also, education and empowerment are important factors in achieving improved sanitation. Many people in Sierra Leone are not aware of their rights to sanitation and hygiene, and do not have the knowledge or resources to demand better services. Therefore, empowering communities to advocate for their rights to sanitation can help to create a demand for improved services. These can be done through community-based initiatives, such as awareness crusades and training programs which can be tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of each community.
Moreover, promoting good hygiene practices is an important way to improve sanitation and reduce disease. Hand washing for example, is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Also, proper food preparation can help to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. These practices obviously can be promoted through education and awareness campaigns, as well as provision o facilities such as hand washing stations and food safety training. It is important to address the underlying social and cultural factors that influence hygiene practices.
Nonetheless, strengthening government institutions is another key solution for improving sanitation in Sierra Leone. The government has the sole responsibility and role in regulation and enforcing sanitation standards, but often lack the capacity to do so effectively. Therefore, strengthening institutions can involve increasing the resources and training available to government agencies, as well as improving coordination between different agencies. This can lead to more effective regulation and enforcement, and ultimately better sanitation for the population.
In sum, it is time for Sierra Leone to get serious about sanitation services and provide a comprehensive plan for safe and sustainable sanitation. However, stemming the tides from proper sanitation infrastructure, sanitation financing, supporting community-based sanitation initiatives and strengthening policies and government at the national and local level are the key remedies to sustainable sanitation services in Sierra Leone more or less for the race of 2030.
