Zimbabwean News You Can Trust
Own Correspondent
Kudakwashe Ruzive
Joyce Mavhurume (71) and Takudzwa Maruta (17) from Mavhurume village in Murehwa, face several challenges in their day-to-day lives due to their disabilities. They are unable to perform regular self-help hygiene routines, such as using the ablutions facilities, which makes their daily lives quite uncomfortable and leaves them vulnerable to diarrheal diseases.
Several families within the village had tried to create a decent environment for them to live comfortably, but due to financial constraints and lack of access to proper facilities, it proved challenging.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a humanitarian organization which seeks to promote sustainable growth and development in communities, established a program called Accelerating Water, Improvement and Hygiene (AWISH).
It chose the family and built a toilet for it, which could cater to their needs and promote hygiene standards within the community. The initiative aimed to create hygienic living conditions for people with disabilities. The toilet will be a great relief for Takudzwa, as it has a disabled persons’ access-ramps on its plan.
In an interview with this correspondent, CRS Water Sanitation and Hyigiene (WASH) specialist Mr. Edson Nyashanu, said the program resonates well with the Government’s national Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which aims to offer people easy access to basic needs.
“We realized that, if we are to succeed in terms of development, people can only develop when they have access to safe water and a clean environment.
“We are targeting every household that has a disabled person and then build a toilet with a disability access ramp facility. We are working in partnership with the government to ensure that we play our part in the achievement of NDS1,,” said Mr. Nyashanu.
The organization is working in tandem with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mantra: living no place and no one behind.
A disabled persons’ access-ramp toilet has greatly impacted their life. With this new toilet, they will be able to maintain their personal hygiene independently, which boosts their confidence and self-esteem. Besides, they will feel more comfortable now, which will enable them to engage more actively in their daily activities.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Joyce Mavhurume expressed her heartfelt gratitude towards the project.
“I am grateful to CRS for selecting me for this project. This toilet is now going to be life-changing for me after a long struggle. We are no longer worried about our day to day life, this has brought a positive change to every disability person in this community,” said Mrs. Mavhurume.
The program has not only helped promote good hygiene, but also improved the quality of life for many disabled people which has resonated by the Disability Inclusion Bill signed into law by Mnangagwa in June 2021.
The program has created a positive impact and raised awareness in the communities about the rights of people living with disabilities. Since the country is currently battling against outbreaks of cholera, the facilities can also help prevent the spread of water borne diseases, improve health standards and promote personal hygiene, which will greatly benefit the community.
