Where There Is No Doctor 2011 137
Public Cleanliness (Sanitation)
1. Keep wells and public water holes clean. Do not let animals go near where
people get drinking water. If necessary, put a fence around the place to keep
animals out.
Do not defecate (shit) or throw garbage near the water hole. Take special care
to keep rivers and streams clean upstream from any place where drinking water
is taken.
2. Burn all garbage that can be burned. Garbage that cannot be burned should
be buried in a special pit or place far away from houses and the places where
people get drinking water.
3. Build latrines (out-houses, toilets) so pigs and other animals cannot reach the
human waste. A deep hole with a little house over it works well. The deeper the hole,
the less problem there is with flies and smell.
Here is a drawing of a simple
out-house that is easy to
build.
It helps to throw a little lime,
dirt, or ashes in the hole after
each use to reduce the smell
and keep flies away.
Out-houses should be built at
least 20 meters from homes
or the source of water.
If you do not have an
out‑house, go far away from
where people bathe or get
drinking water. Teach your
children to do the same.
Use of latrines helps
prevent many sicknesses.
Ideas for better latrines are found on the next
pages. Also latrines can be built to produce good
fertilizer for gardens. See A Community Guide to
Environmental Health, Chapter 7.