Malnutrition is rampant in Katete, especially in under-fives due frequently to diarrhea. We have a supplement that will make them put on weight very fast and we have a way to provide clean water, which is the compost toilet. Given that we expect drought for most years to come, a water toilet will be out of the question and the soil that receives organic matter will be able to hold the scarce water for longer for better harvest. Tiko also teaches how to grow a balanced diet cost efficiently.
Malnutrition is rampant in the Eastern Province of Zambia. Nearly half of the children are stunted in growth, are underweight for their age and height and have little immunity. One major reason is recurring diarrhea from unclean water as well as lack of knowledge about a balanced diet and how to grow it cost effectively
The short-term effect is rapid weight gain due to TIKO ONENEPA SUPPLEMENT, from a recipe of Filipino nuns. However, children would lose weight again with more diarrhea. A way to provide clean water to people in compounds, where right now wells are located next to pit latrines or where there is an absence of toilets, is the compost toilet. Fecal matter is being collected, saved for half a year and then used in Berkeley compost heaps, which produce a high enough temperature to kill pathogens
Long term the compost toilet is the only solution to prevent disease from unclean water. In the long term the 16 000 people in Tiko's catchment area will learn about the compost toilet and will have time to get used to a principle that is abhorrent to their present thinking. The 85 Tiko crew have come to accept it and would wish to have that toilet in their compound . Knowledge of a balanced diet and how to plant and breed it will prevent malnutrition for good.
This project has provided additional documentation in a DOCX file (projdoc.docx).