Repairing sewage networks in Taiz: An urgent matter of community health

54-years-old Fatoom, a mother to ten children, lives with her husband, sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren in a humble house in Sena, a sub-district of Taiz governorate. Sena residents have been suffering from a lack of sewage and wastewater that filled the streets.  “When people passed by my neighborhood for a few minutes, they used to close their eyes and hold their breath,” says Fatoom. “Only the poor families who spent their days and nights here understood the suffering. Sometimes we couldn’t eat because of the bad odors.”

In the past few years, Taiz governorate witnessed high mortality rates caused by communicable and preventable diseases, including cholera and dengue fever. People in Sena suffered from poor sewage systems that affected the health of many children and adults in the area. Last year, Coronavirus added fuel to the fire, posing an additional threat to people’s health. Sena was one of the first regions in Taizz to report Covid cases.

For almost ten years, Fatoom has suffered from chest and respiratory diseases caused by the odors and gases emanating from the sewage. “We were unable to open the windows because of the bad odors,” she explains, “the smell made me feel sick, and I expect it to kill me one day.”

CARE repaired the sewage network in the Sena area. 80 Households, including Fatoom’s family, benefited from the improved sewage network. Moreover, 1658 families received consumable hygiene kits to maintain basic hygiene standards.

“Thanks to CARE,” says Fatoom, “the sewage system was repaired, and the area is now free from contamination and bad smells. I’m grateful for everyone who helped us enjoy a clean, disease-free environment,” she concludes.