Amper-Bo residents receive toilets
Residents of Amper-Bo in the Gibeon Constituency in the Hardap Region received ventilated improved pit (VIP) toilets on Monday to address the sanitation problem the constituency faces.
A total of 22 residents received the toilets built at a cost of N$22 000.
An elated 82-year-old, Trooi Hanse, who has been staying at Amper-Bo for 22 years, told Nampa she was happy to finally receive a toilet.
“I am very happy for this day. I am an old lady and I am also disabled and had to go to the veld when nature called. I thank our government and councillor for this gesture,” Hanse remarked.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Gibeon constituency councillor, Jeremiah van Neel said government in line with the National Development Plans (NDP) and Harambee Prosperity Plan, prioritised sanitation as a primary focus for development interventions.
Van Neel, who is also a National Council member, said according to NDP5, dry sanitation (pit latrines) is the most commonly used system in rural areas.
He also quoted the Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey of 2015 that nationally, only 54% of households in Namibia have access to improved sanitation.
“The problem is particularly acute in rural areas where only 28% of the households have access to improved sanitation facilities with an alarming 71.5% of households practicing open defecation,” van Neel noted.
He said low access to improved sanitation constitutes a serious public health problem.
Van Neel urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the VIP toilets and guard them jealously.
Since 2012, over 3 855 sanitation facilities were constructed in all regions, except Khomas, in rural communities at household and public places.
This was mainly done by the Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
Amper-Bo is situated approximately 110 kilometres southeast of Mariental with some 350 residents and one primary school.
NAMPA
A total of 22 residents received the toilets built at a cost of N$22 000.
An elated 82-year-old, Trooi Hanse, who has been staying at Amper-Bo for 22 years, told Nampa she was happy to finally receive a toilet.
“I am very happy for this day. I am an old lady and I am also disabled and had to go to the veld when nature called. I thank our government and councillor for this gesture,” Hanse remarked.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Gibeon constituency councillor, Jeremiah van Neel said government in line with the National Development Plans (NDP) and Harambee Prosperity Plan, prioritised sanitation as a primary focus for development interventions.
Van Neel, who is also a National Council member, said according to NDP5, dry sanitation (pit latrines) is the most commonly used system in rural areas.
He also quoted the Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey of 2015 that nationally, only 54% of households in Namibia have access to improved sanitation.
“The problem is particularly acute in rural areas where only 28% of the households have access to improved sanitation facilities with an alarming 71.5% of households practicing open defecation,” van Neel noted.
He said low access to improved sanitation constitutes a serious public health problem.
Van Neel urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the VIP toilets and guard them jealously.
Since 2012, over 3 855 sanitation facilities were constructed in all regions, except Khomas, in rural communities at household and public places.
This was mainly done by the Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
Amper-Bo is situated approximately 110 kilometres southeast of Mariental with some 350 residents and one primary school.
NAMPA
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