Nargis Khatun, WASH

Nargis Khatun, a 26-year-old housewife, resides in Baganbari, Ward No. 5, Satkhira Municipality. Her husband, Md Al Mamun, works as a delivery man in a company. She has four members in her family: herself, her 6-year-old son, husband, and father-in-law. Her father-in-law is an elderly person who suffers from health issues. He experienced a heart attack once and requires regular medication, costing up to BDT 200 Taka. Her husband earns a minimal amount, being the sole breadwinner of the family. Consequently, it’s challenging for him to cover the monthly medication costs. Additionally, her son often suffers from various health issues like diarrhea and stomach pain.

After the Uttaran WASH project began, a committee was formed, including mothers from the area. Nargis Khatun became a member of this committee. The committee meets every three months to discuss issues such as safe water, hygienic latrines, cleanliness, menstrual health management, and the benefits and drawbacks of regular and proper handwashing. Through these discussions, Nargis realized that their family toilet, located at the back of the house, was unhygienic and lacked proper fencing for privacy. Moreover, she wasn’t well-informed about the correct handwashing methods. Consequently, her family, including her children, frequently suffered from diarrhea, leading to frequent visits to the doctor and substantial expenses on medicines.

Realizing the root cause of her family’s health issues during the committee meetings, Nargis discussed this matter with her family members. They began saving at least BDT 100 per day for their family’s well-being. Nargis initiated measures to maintain hygiene and promote cost-effective hygiene practices within her family. They started consistently washing their hands and maintaining cleanliness around the house.

Six months later, with the saved amount totaling BDT 18,000, they installed new sanitary latrines and ensured their proper use by all family members. As a result, all family members, including herself, are now healthy and no longer suffer from health issues like diarrhea. This positive change eliminated the need for doctor visits and medicine expenses related to diarrhea.As a result of her transformative journey, Nargis Khatun now encourages her neighbors to consume safe water, maintain cleanliness, and use sanitary latrines. Her story has inspired many women in the community, convincing them to follow her path for their families’ well-being and prosperity.