Delivery of Sustainable and Quality Comprehensive Eye Health Care
With support from ORBIS International, Emmanuel Development Association (EDA) implemented a project to combat trachoma through improved WASH and behaviour change across six zones in South and Southwest Ethiopia. The project focused on constructing inclusive sanitation facilities, promoting handwashing, and supporting communities to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status to reduce the environmental transmission of trachoma.
Key achievements include the construction of two inclusive VIP latrines benefiting 2,497 students; installation of 11 handwashing facilities at 10 primary schools, three of which include water harvesting systems; distribution of 180 plastic slabs to model households; and supporting 22 kebeles to achieve Open Defecation Free status. Thirty-two CLTS committees and 30 WASHCOs were established and equipped with maintenance tools.
The project directly reached 10,952 beneficiaries — including 6,620 children (4,863 girls and 1,757 boys) and 4,332 adults (3,184 women and 1,148 men) — and indirectly benefited 13,449 individuals, significantly improving sanitation, hygiene, and trachoma prevention across the target zones.
Key Activities & Deliverables
School and Institutional Sanitation Infrastructure
- Inclusive VIP Latrines: Constructed two inclusive Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines, directly improving sanitation access for 2,497 primary school students.
- Handwashing and Water Harvesting: Installed 11 handwashing facilities across 10 primary schools, integrating specialized rainwater harvesting systems into three of the setups.
- Household Sanitation Upgrades: Distributed 180 durable plastic latrine slabs to model households to promote hygienic, easy-to-clean home sanitation setups.
Grassroots Behavior Change & Community Management
- Open Defecation Free (ODF) Status: Facilitated community mobilization that led 22 local kebeles (neighborhood/village tracts) to successfully achieve verified Open Defecation Free status.
- Local Governance Committees: Established and equipped 32 Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) committees and 30 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOs) with system maintenance toolkits.
Direct and Indirect Beneficiary Reach
- Direct Outreach: Reached 10,952 direct beneficiaries across six target zones. This included 6,620 children (4,863 girls and 1,757 boys) and 4,332 adults (3,184 women and 1,148 men).
- Indirect Impact: Extended indirect public health and environmental transmission benefits to an estimated 13,449 individuals within the wider community.