Healthcare: providing much needed toilet facilities to a large rural village community

The village chiefs of Have, a large village in the Volta Region, approached the Mad Foundation mid-2004, for assistance in building and funding a much needed and wanted public toilet block. Villagers have no toilet facility within their own homes and generally were forced into the bush for toilet activity, with such a large population this was posing a great risk to health and encouraging the spread of disease and was a source of embarrassment and shame for the village population.

The plan drafted by the village committee and later approved for support by the Mad Foundation was to build a ten seater water closet in the centre of the community. It was decided that based upon the environment and population size a fully flushing facility would prove more hygienic, sustainable and dignified than than a dug pit based option.

The village committee had already fundraised enthusiastically but were a long way off finding the much needed total of £ 2490. The remaining funds were raised over several months from various sources. Many of our ‘neighbours’ in the UK office contributed, including a contribution from a corporate supporter, Barry Young from Marine Law, who regularly supports the work of the Mad Foundation

A team of local volunteers and a team of Madventurer volunteers started work on the building of the toilet block early in January 2005. The initial work was very tough, with a large deep pit having to be dug for a septic tank 20’ x 30’ x10’, with a corresponding drainage system.

As the project was nearing completion and the toilet block itself was being built, unusually heavy rains came and caused water damage to the septic tank. After this set-back the volunteers worked quickly determined to complete the project by early February when the UK volunteers would return home. Due to the dedication of the villagers and all the volunteers the toilets were completed to a usable standard by their deadline.

The villagers were truly delighted and proud of their new toilet block and hope to add needed finishing touches. John Lawler founder of the Mad Foundation, in Ghana at the time, was invited to the village by the chief and was able to take part alongside all the UK volunteers in a wonderful closing ceremony where the village expressed its gratitude and pride.