In South Sudan, many people still practice Open Defecation (OD) both in the rural and urban areas. Open defecation not only pollutes the environment but also increases the risk of communicable diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, and intestinal infections. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 63% of the population in South Sudan practices open defecation. This translates to roughly 8.2 million people out of a population of 13 million.

In many parts of South Sudan, access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) remains below minimum standards, contributing to widespread open defecation. To address this, the Government of South Sudan adopted the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach in February 2012 as its official strategy for creating open defecation-free (ODF) environments in rural and peri-urban areas.

With funding from UNICEF, ForAfrika implemented the CLTS approach in Boma County, targeting a population of 2,500. Among the beneficiaries was GEBU 3 village, home to 124 residents. Through community mobilization and behavior change efforts, GEBU 3 became the first village in the county to be certified and declared open defecation-free, setting a powerful example for six other villages and two schools now following in its footsteps.

In partnership with the county government, ForAfrika continues to promote proper WASH practices to improve community health, particularly maternal and child well-being. The CLTS approach encourages households to build and use safe toilets and adopt essential hygiene habits, such as handwashing at critical times. This grassroots strategy has proven effective in breaking the fecal-to-oral disease cycle, a common transmission route where pathogens from human waste contaminate food and water sources.

Thanks to increased awareness and improved sanitation practices, Jebel Boma successfully averted a cholera outbreak that affected other parts of the country in May 2025. The success of GEBU 3 stands as a testament to the power of community-driven solutions in transforming public health.