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Locadia Mavhudzi Midlands Correspondent
MORE than half of households in Gokwe North District are still using the bush to relieve themselves as most homes do not have toilets despite the Midlands Province recording 51 percent access to improved sanitation facilities, according the latest provincial health and nutrition survey.

Presenting the statistical outcomes at a food fortification workshop in Gweru recently, Ministry of Health and Childcare nutritionist Mr Dexter Chagwena said villagers had been allowed to settle without having proper ablution facilities at their homesteads, thereby creating a challenge of using the bush.

“You also have the cost issue. Most households can’t afford building toilets. However, it should be noted that the risk factors associated with not having a toilet far outweigh the cost of building a toilet,” he said.

He said efforts were being made to improve the district’s water and sanitation situation.

He said Government was targeting traditional leaders to spearhead the construction of toilets at every household.

“We have set up community health groups to spearhead the improvement of the district sanitation coverage.

“We are targeting traditional leaders and ensure that they take a leading role. We feel that if a community leader does not have a toilet, it makes it difficult for other members of the community to build toilets.

“If traditional leaders have toilets at their homesteads then the rest of the community will follow suit,” he said.

Meanwhile, Midlands provincial crop and livestock officer Mrs Madeliner Magwenzi pointed out poverty and lack of adequate health education as some of the factors leading to high prevalence of using the bush.

He said using the bush may have been increased in recent times due to natural disasters such as rains.