Community toilet in slums improves living standard

Community-based public toilet and hand washing facilities with soap in urban slums could improve hygiene behaviour and overall living standard of the slum dwellers.
Such example was set at a community-managed WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) centre at Kallyanpur slum in the city, funded by Unilever Bangladesh Limited (UBL) and implemented by BHUMIJO, a social enterprise.
The WASH centre was recently inaugurated by British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson, while his wife Teresa Albor, BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh, UBL Chairman and Managing Director Kedar Lele, and UBL Marketing Director (Home Care) Tanzeen Ferdous were present.
During the visit to the slum widely known as Kallyanpur Pora Bosti (burnt slum) on November 07, the British High Commissioner exchanged views with the beneficiaries of the WASH centre and listened to the difficulties they face in everyday life in the slum.
The WASH centre was constructed in March last, but the formal inauguration took place on the day due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, it has been in use by the beneficiaries since March.
Describing the experience of using the wash centre, Asma Akter, a small business owner living in the slum, said cleanliness, easy access for women, availability of sufficient water and soap, and electricity are the advantages of the toilet.
She said, "It was unsafe for women to go to toilet at night while most of the slum dwellers needed to wait in queue to use the toilet before going work in the morning."
But now it is much easier for the subscribed families in the slum to use the toilet, she added. There are approximately 8,000 people live in this slum, said Abdul Malek, adding: "At least 10 more public toilet is needed inside the slum to ensure access to hygienic toilet for all."
However, BRAC executive director noted that finding enough space in the congested urban slums in the country is a big challenge, but such facilities contribute to slum communities greatly.
Citing a BRAC survey, Mr Saleh said it is indicated that people are generally aware of the recommended behavior like hand washing with soap, wearing mask, maintaining social distancing etc.
But, he said, compliance rates are low due to several factors such as: masks difficult to breathe in, people not maintaining proper distance, soaps not always available for hand washing, etc.
The UBL chairman said the model does not only ensure self-sustenance, rather working to ensure that the society is impacted in a positive manner by changing their health and hygiene behaviour.
With the help of UBL's purpose-led brands, the facility drives hygiene behaviour awareness where proper practices are depicted, he said.
Mr Lele also said by recruiting and training people from the local community for maintenance, they are alleviating the stigma related to the work of cleaners and attendants by establishing them as dignified contributors to the society. Currently, 48 families have subscribed for the toilet service which can be used by at least 100 families.
The wash centre was developed as a community-managed business model which collects user fees for maintenance of the facility.
A family, consisted of 4/5 people, needs to pay Tk 60 per month to use the toilet.
Besides, the initiators of the project also installed a water ATM, a concept of US-based Drinkwell, to provide fresh drinking water at Tk 1.0 per litre to the slum dwellers.
The WASH centre also has cloth washing facility where people can wash per kg cloths at Tk 50 using the washing machine installed in the centre.
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