Sewage and FS management practices (Cameroon)

Access to a liquid sanitation service in households is a major concern for both the international community and the municipal magistrates of the city of Ebolowa.
Despite the actions undertaken by the city’s authorities, households are experiencing difficulties in accessing adequate excreta and wastewater management facilities. The aim of this study is to show that access to wastewater and excreta sanitation services in households can be improved. The study was based on qualitative and quantitative data collection. The results show that low purchasing power and the environment in which people live do not allow households to afford adequate wastewater and excreta treatment facilities. The liquid sanitation sector is not given enough prominence, but is governed by various texts scattered across several ministries, making it difficult to transfer resources to the Communes. The rate of access to an improved latrine is 16% in areas with spontaneous housing, compared with 27% in neighborhoods with mixed housing. This justifies the proliferation of dirty hands diseases. Treatment of these diseases depends on the purchasing power of the household, irrespective of the area in which it is located. Improving household access to improved sanitation facilities depends on the area of residence and the purchasing power of the household. Poor wastewater and excreta management practices inevitably lead to health, socio-economic and ecological consequences. To improve the rate of access to latrines and related facilities, a communication strategy must be developed and implemented by neighborhood committees to promote ecological latrines.