From Sickness to Strength: How One Woman’s Latrine Sparked a Village Sanitation Revolution in Kakori

We used to fall sick with diarrhea often, but I never knew the cause. I didn’t have a latrine at home, and I wasn’t aware that simple practices like washing hands with soap could protect my family’s health,” says Achom Fiona of Kakori village, Kapir sub-county, Ngora District.

Achom Fiona’s first ever latrine, constructed after more than a decade without one

“When RSI began working in our village, they conducted hygiene and sanitation education sessions. That’s when I realized the connection between our health and our daily habits.

After I sold my cassava harvest, I used the money to build a household latrine. Since then, our health has improved greatly. We no longer suffer frequent bouts of diarrhea. I’m so thankful to RSI for not just raising awareness and training local masons, but for inspiring real change in our lives.”

A single mother of 4 children, Fiona’s transformation has had a ripple effect across Kakori village. Her story has inspired many other households to construct or improve their own latrines, leading to a visible improvement in the community’s sanitation standards.

According to Edith the Health Assistant at Kapir Sub- County, there has been a noticeable reduction of approximately 30% in sanitation-related illnesses such as diarrhea and intestinal infections over the past year. “We have seen fewer cases coming in from Kakori and neighboring villages where RSI has been active. It’s a remarkable improvement,” the health assistant noted.