Medical student by day...: Everyone Poops

I would guess most have encountered the book “Everyone Poops” at some point in childhood or parenting. The book is helpful to some of us who are a little shy about this act. There’s nothing to worry about, Everyone Poops! The book explains that babies poop in diapers and everyone else goes in toilets. There is never a question of no toilets. Even the most stubborn toddler knows, if they need to go the bathroom and are willing to use a toilet, one is available.

Here in Haiti, that’s not the case.

Do Digue is a rural village, with a population of about 600. It is also one of the villages Community Health Initiative (CHI) partners with. They have just one working latrine for the entire population and that was built last year. The only alternative is going on the ground. Besides the huge privacy and dignity issues, there is the large problem of sanitation. Open defecation puts the entire community at risk for diseases like cholera and rotavirus.

The primary occupation in Do Digue is farming. Decades of embargos on trade lead a large portion of the population to turn to subsistence living, relying heavily on trees for charcoal production. This unchecked practice resulted in vast deforestation and erosion of essential top soil. Thus, today, crop yields are meager.

The people of Do Digue are sick of their children getting sick. They are sick of their children not having enough to eat. And CHI is sick of it with them. So now there’s a plan. Do Digue is planning to build thirty composting latrines, this year, with CHI’s support. The latrines have a large enough pit to collect a family’s business for one year. After a year, the latrine is moved to a new pit and the first is covered for one year. The year allows the waste to turn into compost the families can use as fertilizer. The goal, reduce diarrhea induced death and improve privacy, dignity, sanitation and crop yields with one project.

So here is where you can help out! Each latrine costs $250. So for 30 we need to raise $7500. Each family receiving a latrine is contributing $25. This is a huge investment for families that live off about $1 a day. This is how committed they are to change. The families will also contribute time and labor to the construction of their latrine. Another huge investment under the Haitian sun. If you can, please consider making a donation. If you can’t, please consider sharing this cause with some friends. Remember, your friends poop too.

To make a donation: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/chi-composting-latrines-in-haiti?c=home