Health and happiness flow in Salma's Zanzibar home
Salma’s home in Bububu sits on the west coast of Zanzibar, where she lives with her husband, two children, her daughter-in-law, and a grandchild. After retiring from government service in 2006, she began working with non government agencies and now spends her days caring for her household.
When pondering the health issues of her community, Salma determined the only way to eradicate the problems is for everyone to have better sanitation solutions.
“I didn’t have a proper water flow or sewage system, which was really tough.”
When she first moved to Bububu, there were several challenges. Electricity was unavailable, and although water existed in the neighborhood, Salma could not afford a connection. Recently, with a small loan made available to Salma through our local partner bank in Zanzibar, Jumuiya ya Changamoto, Salma was able to connect to her water utility. Yet even with safe water flowing indoors, another problem remained. “I still didn’t have septic tanks for proper sanitation,” she explained. “I didn’t have a proper water flow or sewage system, which was really tough.”
"No matter how much I tried to handle the situation and ensure proper hygiene, it was difficult without a system to dispose of wastewater."
Salma mops and cleans the floors of her bathroom
Salma tried to cope with the situation but concerns for her family’s health and cleanliness issues were ongoing. Despite her best efforts, her kitchen and home could not stay clean. “No matter how much I tried to handle the situation and ensure proper hygiene, it was difficult without a system to dispose of wastewater.”
“We also got malaria from time to time. There was even a cholera outbreak in the neighborhood.”
And issues related to not having a proper system for channeling wastewater extended beyond her household and into her community where most families did not have access to safe water or sanitation. As a result of not having an improved system for channeling wastewater Salma explained that the standing water caused diseases and illnesses, “We got malaria from time to time. There was even a cholera outbreak in the neighborhood.” She saw clearly that the only way forward was for everyone to have improved water and sanitation systems.
Salma discusses her needs with her bank representative from Jumuiya ya Changamoto
“I asked them for the loan, and I was privileged to get it, and I started to fix my problems.”
Salma acted and took another small loan through our partner bank to fund a bathroom and sanitation system. “I asked them for the loan, and I was privileged to get it, and I started to fix my problems.” With funds to establish a new sanitation system, Salma's home and her family’s health was transformed. “We are living comfortably and peacefully, in a clean and safe environment,” she explained. “We are now protected from diseases.”
Salma lifted the lid on her sewage drain to show how the system flows
"We are happily living in peace in our home now..."
Salma can now prepare food and wash dishes knowing the water used to cook and clean will channel into a sewer system and not become standing water outside of her home
Salma described the joy these solutions brought her family, “We are happily living in peace in our home with no worries that our wastewater may spill out and overflow, or that there will be an influx of bugs due to sewage waste or negligence.”
Salma believes in herself and is proud of how she has solved her family's water and sanitation issues
“I feel good. I feel brave.”
Salma’s journey has been shaped by determination. “I feel good. I feel brave," she shared as she explained how badly she wanted to give her family the health that comes from safe water and sanitation. Through our local partners, she found a way to do it. “Poverty can only be eradicated by working hard to escape it by getting informed, educated, and looking for different opportunities.” We are thankful to have helped paved the way for Salma to find her opportunity to finance a lasting, sustainable solution.
