Tabalong destroys floating latrines to accelerate healthy environment

People in Lok Bayur, Tabalong, together with Health Agency and YABN destroy floating latrines. (Antaranewa.Kalsel/special)

We have successfully removed 80 percent of floating latrines to replace them with healthy toilets builts by the community,

Tanjung, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Tabalong Health Agency have conducted acceleration in improving environment health quality of its people, one of which by destroying floating latrines along the Tabalong River.

An Environment Health staff of the agency Gazali Rahman said the destruction of floating latrines is to support "Leave Open Defecation for a Healthy Tabalong (TUNTAS) movement.

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The program is also to change open defecation habit of people living along the riverside with the hope to realize zero floating latrines in the district.

The destruction of foating latrines was carried out in Lok Bayur village, Tanta Sub-district, involving village officials, the Adaro Bangun Negeri Foundation (YABN) as partner of the agency and member of TUNTAS working group.

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"The enthusiasm of local people was quite high, because they were aware that open defecation is unhealthy," Gazali pointed out.

Some residents participated in the movement by building toilets independently, Gazali told.

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Next, the destruction of floating latrines will be carried out gradually in a numbe of villages those are not free from open defecation yet.

Chief of Lok Bayur Village Aslama Gafuri said the removal of floating latrines in his village is targeted to complete by the end of November.

"We have successfully removed 80 percent of floating latrines to replace them with healthy toilets builts by the community," he said.