2010 WISA

CONFERENCE: WISA (Water Institute of South Africa) Durban. 

YEAR: 2010

AUTHORS: Maksimoski, N & Waterkeyn, A.

TITLE: The Community Health Club Approach in Informal Settlements: Case study from eThekwini municipality, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa.

FULL PAPER: 2010_WISA_eThekwini

PRESENTATION:  2010. Grey Water Reuse through Health Clubs

ABSTRACT:

The Community Health Club (CHC) Approach promotes sustainable and holistic community development by providing a structured learning environment for health promotion and water and sanitation activities. Although research has shown the CHC approach to be cost-effective in achieving continued behaviour change in numerous locations in Africa, most projects to date have been implemented in a rural context. 

Most recently, there has been interest to apply this methodology to informal settlements in South Africa.  To determine if it is possible to translate the success of CHCs to this setting, Africa AHEAD, under the eThekwini Municipality’s Department of Water and Sanitation, implemented a pilot project in the peri-urban informal settlement of Johanna Road.  Although only at mid-point, tangible results such as a 75.6% increase in zero open defecation among CHC members, a 50% reduction of non-sanctioned dumping sites in the settlement, and increased health, hygiene, and sanitation knowledge in the community suggest that the CHC Approach is appropriate for informal settlements.  While change has occurred in a remarkably short time, alterations to the implementation strategy proved necessary in order to adapt the methodology to this context.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]