Review of safe disposal of feces

In 2004, at the mid-term assessment of progress toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals, it was estimated that over 2.6 billion people still did not have access to improved sanitation, in the sense of safe excreta disposal. The situation is most serious in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. World-wide, twice as many people lack access to improved sanitation facilities as lack access to improved water supply; and, four out of every ten people do not even have or use a simple pit latrine. This has significant health repercussions because indiscriminant defecation near the home is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, specifically, the incidence of diarrhoea and worm infestation. This paper provides an overview of experience and research about the benefits, strategies and technologies for improved disposal of human excreta. Reference is also made to a rich and growing pool of program experience that can be built upon the address this challenge cost-effectively.