By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
BEITBRIDGE District has achieved 36 percent sanitation coverage, with progress recorded in rural communities that previously had limited access to toilets.
The milestone was revealed by District Medical Officer Linos Samhere during a briefing to the Minister of Health and Child Care, Douglas Mombeshora, who toured Beitbridge District Hospital last Friday.
Dr. Samhere said the progress was largely driven by a “demand-led” sanitation approach implemented in rural areas, where toilet accessibility had historically been low.
He said the strategy places communities at the center of development, encouraging households to take responsibility for constructing their own sanitation facilities.
“Most of the participants in this initiative were women, who played a leading role in mobilizing their families and communities to adopt improved sanitation practices,” said Dr. Samhere.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has been promoting the Sanitation and Hygiene Policy, which emphasizes community-led total sanitation (CLTS) and Participatory Health and Hygiene Education (PHHE).
The approach focuses on empowering households to build their own toilets rather than relying solely on external assistance.
Under CLTS, communities are encouraged to collectively eliminate open defecation by constructing and consistently using toilets.
PHHE complements this by equipping families with knowledge on hygiene practices, disease prevention, and safe water handling.
Health officials say while the 36 percent coverage marks significant progress, more work remains to ensure universal access to safe sanitation across the district.