Coastal residents to benefit from hygienic toilets

A coast section is eroded in Song Doc town of Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province. Photo: VNA

Ca Mau has been one of the localities hardest hit by climate change in recent years. Relevant agencies estimate that the province has lost over 8,000ha of coastal forest land over the last 10 years, and this figure is still rising.

The Mekong Delta province is one of the provinces that has done well in implementing the Prime Minister’s Directive No.200 on ensuring clean water and environmental sanitation in rural areas. However, during the last few years, the practice of constructing toilets on rivers has re-occurred in the province, causing significant impacts on the environment and people’s health.

In partnership with the Women’s Union of Ca Mau, the project “Community-based disaster risk management in vulnerable areas of the Mekong Delta” has been implemented by Save the Children since 2015 with provision of hygienic plastic toilets to 894 poor households.

Accordingly, the selected families are provided with a qualified three-compartment septic plastic tank, a toilet seat and a pipeline system. It is suitable for households living near canals, rivers and other bodies of water as it can be relocated whenever needed.

With a view to promoting the community’s preparedness and response to natural disasters, the project will help the coastal communes gain sustainable access to water sources, improve sanitary conditions, and create a safe learning environment at local schools.

Tu Anh