152 Staying Healthy
➤ For more
information about
building latrines, see
Hesperian’s book A
Community Guide
to Environmental
Health.
➤ After using the
latrine, throw a little
lime, dirt, or ash in
the hole to reduce
the smell and keep
flies away.
How to build a latrine
1. Dig a pit about ½ meter
wide, 1½ meters long,
and 3 meters deep.
2. Cover the pit,
leaving a hole
about 20 by 30
centimeters.
3. Build a shelter and
roof out of local
building materials.
To be safe, a latrine should be
at least 20 meters from all houses,
wells, springs, rivers, or streams. If
it must be anywhere near a place
people go for water, be sure to put
the latrine downstream.
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m
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Where Women Have No Doctor 2012