Sanitation and Hygiene

1. INTRODUCTION

The paper intends to find significant conclusions and make recommendations based on scientific information and ethically accepted data. The paper focuses on women, hygiene, and sanitation in Kibera slums which is one of the largest slums in Africa with a population of almost 2 million people; and where 10-25% of the population are infected with HIV/AIDS. (UNDP, 2005.)

Kibera is not the only slum dealing with sanitation and hygiene problems, many developing cities are also facing the challenge. Widespread sanitation and hygiene problems are a result of poor political leadership, mismanagement of resources, and poverty. Many first-world or underdeveloped countries face the same challenges, although with good political leadership it is possible to overcome the problems. Poor political leadership and corruption have led to poverty, widespread diseases, and war. African leaders should be encouraged to meet the needs of citizens instead of being self-centered about wealth and power. By doing this, the poor population will be able to access basic needs such as food, education, water, shelter, and medical care with fewer difficulties.

According to the Ministries of Health and Water, in 1983 national sanitation reached 49% of the population. Research carried out by the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) estimated that sanitation in Kenya covered 45%and 46% in 1996.

Dickens in 1883 quoted that Charity begins at home. This means good hygiene and sanitation must start at the grassroots level. Thus the study focuses on women because a woman’s health is reflected in the well-being of the family. It is important for nurses’ to bear in mind women’s concerns in poor urban areas to be able to implement effective care given to women when they visit hospitals.

The purpose of this study is to review relevant literature on sanitation and hygiene of women in poor urban centers and to describe how nurses can help women by giving them suggestions on how to improve sanitation and hygiene. Finally, we will design a poster for community health care nurses working with women living in underprivileged environments.

2. HEALTH CARE AND CONCERNS IN KIBERA SLUMS

2.1 Description and statistics

Kibera lies at an altitude of 1,670 meters above sea level, latitude 36 degrees, 50 degrees east, and longitude 1 degree, 17 degrees south about 140 km south of the equator. The emergence of Kibera as an informal settlement is connected with the phenomenal growth of the city of Nairobi. Kibera slums, the largest informal settlement in Africa, is situated 5 kilometers south of Nairobi City center which is the capital city of Kenya. It houses more than a quarter of Nairobi’s population. The name `Kibera´ originated from a Nubian word that means `forest.´ (Karanja et al., 2002)

Kibera is divided into nine official villages, with each village having its elder. They are Kianda, Soweto, Kisumu Ndogo, Lindi, Laini saba, Silanga, Makini and Mashimoni. There are no residences greater or bigger than a single story. The average home is nine square meters which have five inhabitants per dwelling. Urban services such as water and sanitation are scarce. There is one pit latrine for every fifty to five hundred people hence leading to `flying toilets.´ Kenya has a great water shortage residents rely on piped water, boreholes, and the polluted Nairobi River. Drinking water is pumped through plastic pipes alongside sewage trenches. (Karanja et al., 2002)

2.2 Health care delivery systems

The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kenya is responsible for providing health care to the Kibera population. Kenyatta National Hospital, the biggest referral hospital in East and Central Africa, is close to the Kibera slums. Other health care facilities in the slum include health clinics, dispensaries, maternity homes, nursing homes, medical centers, laboratories and radiological services, dental clinics which are owned by non-governmental organizations and private individuals.

Attempts have been made to improve the healthcare system in Kibera by the Kenyan government, non-governmental institutions, and the private sector. Health care facilities are licensed by the Ministry of Health if they meet the requirements of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). However, most of the private facilities operate illegally, thus leading to malpractice and poor quality of health.