Leading a Community to Open Defecation Free Status

Just over a year ago, a third of Tegweng village in Kitgum district located in northern Uganda practiced open defecation and none of the households practiced proper handwashing. Over the last year, the USAID Uganda Sanitation for Health Activity (USHA) has worked with the 37 households in the village to change household hygiene and sanitation norms and guide the village to improve their sanitation status. Through partnership with local leaders, Tegweng village is now Open Defecation Free (ODF) - a significant milestone in improving the health and wellbeing of those who call the village home, and more especially, for the dignity and better quality of life of women.