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The tiny village of Kontadubala in Kambia District, Sierra Leone, may seem like a postcard of idyllic country life, but the Ebola crisis has shed a light on longstanding problems such as the lack of water and sanitation.
When one of Adikalie Kamara's relatives was diagnosed as being Ebola positive, his whole family was quarantined. Their lack of a toilet then became a serious issue.
SOUNDBITE (Krio) Adikalie Kamara, Quarantimed Family Member:
"When never had a toilet, but when Ebola came, the lack of toilets became a serious problem, but then help came and they built two toilets there. Now we don't have a problem any more."
The United Nations Mission for Emergency Ebola Response (UNMEER) intervened through one of its Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) and, together with the local NGO United for the Protection of Human Rights (UPHR), had latrines built next to the quarantined home.
They also provided chlorine and a hygiene kit to the family.
The lack of toilet facilities is a widespread problem in the region.
"In Kambia District you have about 60 to 65 percent of homes without toilet facilities. So it is like the emergence of the Ebola worsened this situation. So we find out that in these quarantined homes they do not have toilet facilities. What do they do? They could either go to other houses that are not quarantined, to share with them, which would definitely lead to the spread of the disease, or they use the nearby bush." United for the Protection of Human Rights Project Manager Mohamed Kamara stated.
Adikalie's family have traditionally been carpenters by trade, so the NGO hired them to help build the toilets themselves, paying them for their work.
15 QIPs have been approved by UNMEER in Sierra Leone in 11 of the 12 districts in the country, with over $400,000 spent.
SHOTLIST:
22 MARCH 2015, KONTEDUBALA, KAMBIA, SIERRA LEONE
Rice plantation
Villagers
Farm animals and mango tree
Lady
Woman with baby
Town Chief
Ebola awareness poster
Ebola survivors talking to quarantined family
Boy
Various shots, latrines
From banana plantation to latrine
Adikalie and family
Various shots, latrine interior
Women washing clothes in the river
SOUNDBITE (Krio) Adikalie Kamara, Quarantimed Family Member:
"When never had a toilet, but when Ebola came, the lack of toilets became a serious problem, but then help came and they built two toilets there. Now we don't have a problem any more."
SOUNDBITE (Krio) Adikalie Kamara, Quarantimed Family Member:
"When they came they also gave us chlorine and gloves which we use for cleaning the latrines after each use and then you clean your hands with soap and water. In an area like this we need a lot of water to do most of our work. When we are doffing we need water, to wash all the equipment , to wash the wet and dry areas, we need water to do a lot."
SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed Kamara, Project Manager United for the Protection of Human Rights (UPHR):
"In Kambia District you have about 60 to 65 percent of homes without toilet facilities. So it is like the emergence of the Ebola worsened this situation. So we find out that in these quarantined homes they do not have toilet facilities. What do they do? They could either go to other houses that are not quarantined, to share with them, which would definitely lead to the spread of the disease, or they use the nearby bush."
SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed Kamara, Project Manager United for the Protection of Human Rights (UPHR):
"Now we have the community come and help dig the holes, the pits. But when it comes to the technical part, we are going to hire you to do it. So that makes them very happy, because they have money now, you know, that at least they could use."
DURATION: 02:38
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