Bring healthcare to thousands in rural Nepal

1. Constructionof Toilets :
   50 completed, 277 villagers benefitted directly
   
   In line with HHC’s campaign of ‘one home one toilet’ in the remote Ruby Valley region of central Nepal and the government’s bid to declare the region ODF (open defecation free) a formal request of 700 toilets was sent to HHC by the Ruby Valley Rural Municipality in 2018. HHC partnered with the toilet recipients as well as with the officials of ward 3 of Ruby Valley Rural Municipality during this important campaign.

The DRI supported toilet project though hampered by a long and hard monsoon between June and September of 2018, was completed by the end of December 2018 where 277 inhabitants of 50 households in Sertung village (ward # 3 of Ruby Valley) of now have a permanent toilet at home. 67% of the beneficiaries of these toilets are children.

1. CASE STUDY OF TOILET "After the new toilets, the trails and lanes which were once covered with filth and bad smells are now so clean.  A major problem has been resolved" - Nani M, toilet recipient
   
   
   1. Phe DT, HHC field coordinator
      Kharsa village part of the big village of Sertung has 105 households and 85 were without toilets. Himalayan HealthCare with advice from ward chairman, constructed 60 toilets in Kharsa in 2018. The rest will be built in 2019.

In the words of Nani M, one of the beneficiaries of the 60 toilets in Kharsa:

“My father-in-law Kaman ST is 75 years old and is a former member of the ward committee. He decided to visit the concerned local government bureaus demanding toilet and drinking water but was not successful. But during the visit he heard about HHC and voila! we were suddenly one of the lucky recipients of toilet at home! Our village lacks drinking water and toilets which is a crisis. Our family and neighbors were compelled to defecate on the trail and anywhere we could go. It was especially challenging for the elderly and the children who could not travel long distances. Especially in the dark and in bad weather.  We were always afraid to be embarrassed in the open The makeshift toilet near the house smelled badly and was a place of diseases.”

“HHC not only helped us construct toilets in Kharsa but also taught us how to keep them clean. Also the Gorkha Welfare Organization is installing drinking water so it will make it easy to keep the toilet clean.”

Nani M adds, “Since I had a small baby it was bit difficult while constructing the toilet but now it is so convenient! This has especially helped our senior family members and the young children. The toilets have stopped open-defection and our trails are not filthy anymore. We thank HHC in helping us with the toilet as this has saved us time and has made our environment clean and it has given us a more dignified life.”

The villagers were excited when we granted the toilets to Kharsa and they completed the given tasks within the stipulated time frame. In the past, the trails were covered with excretion but now as Nani M mentioned above, the toilet construction has helped people in day to day life and are able to lead a more dignified life. As the construction of the 60 toilets was so well done, the remaining 25 toilets will also be completed in 2019 within time. I see the enthusiasm of the people. I want to thank the organization and the recipients for this beautiful team work.

 Delays and Challenges:

• Heavy monsoon rains and the big religious holidays caused delays
• The dirt road leading into the northern Dhading region which was temporarily closed over a four months period finally opened in late September thus re-establishing the toilet materials supply.
• Reconstruction of earthquake damaged homes took precedence over the toilets but the recipients worked hard and met our completion dates.

• Photos_of_Toilet_Construction_and_Recipient.pdf (PDF)