A partnership between Saint-Louis (Alsace) and the Boeny region is launching a sanitation project in Ambato-Boeny, where open defecation affects the vast majority of households. Workshop participants gathered in Ambato-Boeny district.
As part of strengthening cooperation between the municipality of Saint-Louis in Alsace and the Boeny region, a new partnership agreement has been concluded for the next three years. This partnership is being implemented through a sanitation project led by GESCOD (Grand Est Solidarités et Coopérations pour le développement) and the city of Saint-Louis in France.
Launch activities took place from June 29 to July 1 in Ambato-Boeny, marked by workshops organized in the communes of Ambato-Boeny and Ambesisika in Ambato-Boeny district.
Actions
"A survey conducted in the seventeen fokontany comprising Ambato-Boeny commune last February revealed that 46% of households do not use latrines. More alarmingly, 96% of households practice open defecation, with 5,205 tonnes of excrement spread into the environment annually. Yet sanitary infrastructure, including public toilets, is available, but pollution causes numerous diseases such as fever, diarrhea, and schistosomiasis," explained a technician.
The project aims to better control urban pollution and reduce diseases linked to poor sanitation. Following the workshop, several actions were identified, including organizing meetings and awareness campaigns with neighborhood leaders to inform them about the situation and pollution consequences. Participants also defined a strategy and developed an action plan for project implementation. The campaign began early this month and will mobilize all stakeholders involved.
"Saint-Louis has been committed to Madagascar since 2010, supporting the communes of Ambato-Boeny, home to approximately 45,000 residents, and Ambesisika, with 15,000 inhabitants. It supports the development of essential services, including access to drinking water, sanitation, waste management, to sustainably improve living conditions," said the project spokesperson.
Before the official project launch, a GESCOD delegation led by the general director of Saint-Louis municipality department in South Alsace met with the Boeny regional chief on June 18 at the administrative building in Ampisikina. During this meeting, GESCOD's general director outlined cooperation sectors with Boeny: sanitation, education, waste and water management, public services and finance management, and school exchanges.
Future library construction will be part of the program for municipalities involved in the project.
Vero Andrianarisoa