Celebrations of sanitation

Every good thing should be celebrated. And in Fiji, two villages recently got festive to mark one of life's very basic - and critical - needs; good sanitation.

In Vanua Levu, residents gathered last month to celebrate the arrival of 100 new latrines to improve local sanitation and help prevent diseases as part of a project with UNICEF. "The latrines will benefit more than 300 area residents," said Jean Matthias, Field Ready's Fiji operations manager.

After a welcoming ceremony, thrilled residents joined Field Ready team members to install the latrines in the village. Team members trained residents in installation, and soon many eager hands were making quick work of the latrine installation.

Our Fiji team also helped mark the worldwide Disaster Awareness Week in November: they joined residents, other NGOS, stakeholders and Fijian government ministers in Jabairata on World Toilet Day to showcase disaster preparedness. Field Ready spotlighted its groundbreaking latrine and other products to help users stay disease-free, mitigate disaster situations and improve local sanitation.

In addition to the latrine, Field Ready displayed and demonstrated our portable, foot-operated handwashing station, foot-operated tap and Jerry buckets.

Attendees at the Jabairata celebration also enjoyed a market and learned what to do in the event of a tsunami.​ In addition to Fiji Assistant Minister of Health and Medical Services Alexander O'Connor, honored guests joining 40 Jubairata families at the event included Roko Of Navosa-Tomasi Canuwale, Sigatoka Health Office Senior Assistant Health Inspector Epi Dauniwaqalevu and members of the Keiyasi Health Center medical staff. ​ The event underscored how many ways South Pacific residents can not only prepare for the natural disasters that occur in the region - but also how they can bolster and improve their communities to ensure better health. ​