Shining the light on the hidden challenge of WASH for people with disabilities in Vanuatu
Rema and Amelina are happy with their new, accessible toilets, thanks to World Vision (World Vision Vanuatu)
This Water, WASH & Climate story was authored by Allison Coleman, World Vision Vanuatu
World Vision’s Water, Women and Disability Study in 2019 found that people with a disability in Vanuatu faced significant challenges collecting water or accessing a hygienic toilet. A staggering 86% of people did not have access to a permanent water source at their homes - water collection is often challenging for people with disabilities due to distance to the source and inaccessible terrain or fear of harassment or abuse.
When it came to accessing a toilet, 45% of all households reported using a toilet that did not provide separation from coming into contact with other people and human excreta (predominantly in rural areas) and 32% of people with disabilities were unable to use a toilet without coming into direct contact with urine or faeces. The challenge for people with disabilities was that even when they could access the toilet, they often had to crawl to go inside and had nothing to sit on or hold onto for support.
World Vision Vanuatu used these findings to create inclusive toilet designs - that is - tailored VIP latrines for people with disabilities that in turn creates a meaningful and significant improvement in their lives. The resulting WASH program has had a marked impact on seven women’s lives. Not only can they now access a hygienic latrine tailored to their needs, they have also fed back how their wellbeing has improved by regaining their independence, dignity and pride.
Lisbeth is happy that she no longer has to rely on help from her family to go to the toilet (World Vision Vanuatu)
Meet Lisbeth
Lisbeth is a grandmother who lives in a rural area of Santo. Lisbeth has visual, hearing and mobility impairments that make accessing the toilet difficult. She would use a stick and rely on assistance from her daughter and granddaughters to help her go to the toilet.
After World Vision installed her new inclusive VIP latrine with arm support, Lisbeth was able to access the toilet independently and safely without coming into contact with any excrement. This provided her with increased independence, feeling of safety and helped improve her hygiene. She was also happy that she doesn’t need to rely on her family and caregivers to go to the toilet anymore.
Rebecca, who lost her sight two years ago, no longer must walk into the bush aided by a stick and one of her grandchildren to go to the toilet (World Vision Vanuatu)
Meet Rebecca
Rebecca is an 80-year-old mother of six children who lives in rural Santo. Two years ago, she lost her sight. Rebecca would walk with the assistance of a stick and need to be assisted by one of her grandchildren to lead her into the bush every time she needed to go to the toilet.
The community toilet is covered with vines and leaves and the sticks are very slippery and unsafe. Using this toilet was very challenging for Rebecca at night and during heavy rain. There was nothing for her to hold on to for balance while squatting and she was very vulnerable to exposure to animals, people and other hazards due to her visual impairment. This had a significant impact on her dignity and independence every day.
Rebecca’s new inclusive VIP toilet is designed to meet her needs. It includes a rope guiding her from her house to the toilet, a handrail leading inside the toilet and a seat riser. This means that she can find her own way to the toilet without depending on assistance from others and can enjoy privacy and safety inside the latrine with a lockable door. Rebecca is now able to use the toilet safely and independently whenever she wants.
Amelina is overjoyed to have an inclusive VIP toilet from World Vision that she can access from her home (World Vision Vanuatu)
Meet Amelina
Amelina is 29 years old. She has severe contractures in her lower limbs and mobilises by pulling herself along the ground. Both of Amelina’s parents have passed away and she lives in Santo with her grandmother who is blind.
Being dependent for others for all her WASH needs presented challenges for Amelina. To access the toilet, Amelina had to pull herself along the ground into the bush. The fertile ground was often wet due to the thick bush foliage and Amelina would come into contact with mud, rotting vegetation, animal excrement and other hazards along the way.
Amelina is overjoyed to have an inclusive VIP toilet that she can now access from her home. Her toilet includes a concrete pathway and low seat that she can slide herself on and off safely and independently.
Lois can independently go to the toilet since obtaining a wheelchair accessible VIP latrine from World Vision (World Vision Vanuatu)
Meet Lois
Lois is a widowed grandmother who lives in an urban area in Santo and is the main carer for her grandchildren, one of whom has an intellectual disability. Lois lost her leg last year as a result of diabetes.
Although Lois lives in an urban area and has the use of a wheelchair to help access the toilet, she has continued to face challenges due to the distance to the toilet and the very rough and rocky ground. Once at the toilet, Lois had to hop out of her wheelchair and crawl on the ground to go inside. She risked injury from the lack of stable flooring inside the toilet and was not able to maintain her privacy.
With her new wheelchair accessible VIP latrine, Lois can independently go to the toilet which is located near her house. She no longer requires assistance from her grandchildren, which has restored her dignity with this daily task. The provision of a concrete ramp has made all the difference to Lois being able to use the toilet by herself and with privacy and safety.
Adeline's VIP toilet has not only made a practical difference to her, but has also had a positive impact on her dignity and self-worth (World Vision Vanuatu)
Meet Adeline
Prior to having wheelchair accessibility to her toilet, 47-year-old Adeline, felt guilt and shame several times a day when she needed to depend on her young boys to help her use a bucket inside her home to go to the toilet. The provision of a wheelchair accessible toilet that she can access independently from her home has made a significant difference to her life and that of her children. The VIP toilet has not only made a practical difference to her, but has also had a positive impact on her dignity and self-worth.
Mary uses her portable toilet chair from World Vision instead of having to pull herself along the ground to reach the toilet outside her home (World Vision Vanuatu)
Meet Mary
Mary is a 76-year-old lady who lives in an urban area of Santo. She had her left leg amputated below the knee as a result of diabetes. When she needed to go to the toilet she had to hop down from her chair and pull herself along the ground, using her stump to reach the toilet. This increased the chance of injury to her wound and infection from contact with the ground.
For Mary, World Vision developed a portable toilet chair made locally from recycled pallets that can be used inside her home, next to her bed, to reduce the need to crawl along the ground especially at night and during bad weather.
This toilet chair is suitable to the local context, reducing the import of potentially unsuitable devices and providing local employment opportunities. The portable toilet chair has increased Mary’s ability to use the toilet during the day and at night with independence, privacy and dignity.
Meet Salome
Salome is an elderly grandmother from Torba province who is now living in Port Vila and is clearly delighted to use her portable toilet chair at home every day, instead of having to struggle up a hill over slippery tree roots and uneven ground every time she needs to access the toilet.
World Vision Vanuatu aims to build climate resilience through locally sourced, sustainable materials that enhance the safety and independence of the most vulnerable members of our communities in a climate smart way.
Watch this inspiring short video which shares the tailored WASH solutions designed and built for Lisbeth, Rebecca, Amelina, Lois, Adeline, Mary and Salome, who live in urban and rural Vanuatu.
Shining the light on a hidden challenge of WASH for people with disabilities in Vanuatu.[1]
Published June 2022
[1] An updated video was presented at the 3rd Vanuatu Health Research Symposium – From Evidence to Impact – October, 2022 Source: World Vision Vanuatu. View updated video
This story was first shared as part of the This is Water, WASH & Climate: Stories from Practice, on 22 June 2022 during the Water, WASH & Climate Virtual Symposium. It has since been edited with permission.
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Disability-inclusive WASH: Practice within Water for Women
This learning brief explores key lessons learnt from implementing disability-inclusive WASH projects and research across Water for Women – in particular, strategies that contribute to meaningful participation and equality of outcomes.
An inclusive community is an essential building block of a climate resilient community. In an uncertain and rapidly changing world, there is no greater priority than ensuring that water and WASH systems are future-proofed for climate resilience, social cohesion, accountability and wellbeing. Embedding the voice of women and marginalised people in water and WASH systems is one of the most effective pathways to strengthen equity and inclusion, so that the ‘invisible’ becomes visible, and valued. Valuing diversity, and diverse perspectives, strengthens prospects for a more climate resilient and socially cohesive future.
For more information about the session and Water & WASH Futures events visit https://washfutures.com/. Key Water and WASH Futures partners are the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the International WaterCentre, Water for Women, the Asian Development Bank and the Australian Water Partnership.
To learn more and continue the discussion on how to achieve SDG 6 in a changing climate, join us in Brisbane at the Water and WASH Futures Conference 13-17 February 2023.
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