In December 2013 the Ebola epidemic broke out in Guinea, then ripped through Liberia and Sierra Leone. For over two years it racked up tragic loss of life and created social disruption. Extreme poverty, a dysfunctional healthcare system, poor sanitation and lack of clean water all contributed to the wildfire spread of the disease.
 
photo courtesy of Monrovia Rotary Club
 
 
The hemorrhagic fever threatened densely populated cities of West Africa, endangering the lives of healthcare workers, crippling the capacity for medical clinics to treat those infected.
 
At the core of the epidemic were the ten West African countries in Rotary District 9101, including Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ivory Coast.
 
District 9101 Governor (2015-16), Marie-Irene Richmond Ahoua traveled across these West African countries numerous times, visiting the clubs in her district during her term in office. Continuously she was confronted by challenging health situations due to lack of proper sanitation and clean water. 
 
Seeking to eliminate the unnecessary  suffering that results from lack of sanitation, she developed the original ideas for the Latrine Block Project, to provide proper and much needed sanitation to West African countries — especially in busy public places such as markets, bus stops, health centers, schools and rest stops along highways.
 
To begin, thirteen locations in Abidjan were selected for latrine block placement. Each location will be supervised by a trained manager, paid by the district of Abidjan. Abidjan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Rotary District 9101 providing maintenance and sustainability for the project.
 
As you will recall from our February 2016 District News, Pieter Koeleman, a member of the Rotary Club of Campbell River first heard about The Latrine Project when he traveled to the annual West Africa Project Fair in November 2015. He was accompanied by his son as well as many other Rotarians from Qualicum Beach, Vancouver B.C., District 5010, and all across the United States from California to New York.
The total project cost to place thirty-three latrine blocks is $200,000 (US).
A Rotary Global Grant was filed in March 2016. The four clubs of the Comox Valley in District 5020 have signed on to contribute to the project, as well as four clubs from North Vancouver Island, and Qualicum Beach.
 
Also involved are five clubs from districts across the US and Austrailia. Of the $200,000 goal, about $150,000 has been raised. Clubs and members are needed for additional support. 
 
Contact: Pieter Koeleman,Rotary Club of Campbell River Africa Latrine Block Project Coordinator
Email: pkphysio@shaw.ca 
Phone: 250-287-2167