MARIENTAL - The Mariental municipality has taken a proactive step towards promoting hygiene in informal settlements by providing pensioners and vulnerable individuals with flush toilets.

Chief executive officer Paul Nghiwilepo said the municipality plans to construct 100 toilets this year, with 40 already completed at a cost of N$520 000.

Each toilet cost the municipality N$15 000,
and 28 of these facilities have already been handed over to their intended beneficiaries. 

“This year, the municipality decided to build toilets for pensioners and vulnerable people. We
aim to ensure there are toilets in the informal settlements by allocating plots with drainage systems,” he told New Era.

Nghiwilepo said the decision to provide toilets to vulnerable residents is a significant step towards improving sanitation and overall living conditions in informal settlements.

Shalomie Richter, a grateful beneficiary who is blind, expressed her appreciation for the toilet, saying her household has been using a bucket toilet for the past 10 years.

She hopes the municipality extends this assistance to others in similar situations, and also appealed for help with prepaid water.

Another beneficiary is Abraham Plaatjies,
who lives with his wife, 10 children and three grandsons. They were provided with a toilet
because of the high number of children in his house, which could lead to health issues caused by poor hygiene. Plaatjies’ first-born, Jane Ses, expressed relief that the family no longer has to rely on a bucket when nature calls.

Joseph Fuma expressed joy and gratitude for the convenience the new toilets bring to their lives, especially for his elderly brother Simon Kasanga, who used to walk long distances to relieve himself. 

- ljason@nepc.com.na