Mobile sanitation units offer dignity and care to Durban’s most vulnerable
Originally published on 12 February 2024
In an important move to help people facing homelessness in Durban, Advance Access & Delivery South Africa joined forces with Viva Con Agua to bring mobile hygiene units to the Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre in Greyville.
What is the problem?
A lack of access to clean, private places, to have hot showers and use toilet facilities is one of the most urgent challenges experienced by people facing homelessness in Durban and other cities around South Africa.
How are they solving it?
Since it opened in 2020, the Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre has been a key site of harm reduction services for homeless communities and people who use drugs. Harm reduction is a public health approach that focuses on minimising the negative impacts of using drugs.
To tackle the urgent need for better hygiene facilities at the centre, Advance Access & Delivery South Africa worked with Viva Con Agua to start the “Nina Manzi Wash Bus” project. This project offers dignified and private access to shower and toilet units for homeless communities.
What made it work?
Complete and accessible services: Four days a week, Bellhaven Reduction Centre provides hot showers to everyone who visits the mobile units.The mobile unit has four shower stalls and two toilet cubicles, with shower gel, towels, lotion, toilet paper, and features for people with disabilities.
Dignified facilities: The units are designed to look good and work well, with colourful designs and useful features and are cleaned after each use to keep them welcoming for all who use them.
Permanent facilities: While the Belhaven Harm Reduction started with a temporary intervention during the Covid-19 lockdown, the ongoing need for services for low-income and homeless communities meant it was necessary to establish a permanent, accessible site in a consistent and dignified setting.
Working Together: The partnership between a number of organisations and local community members enabled resources to be shared with a focus on health and welfare.
Call to action
Want to support projects like the Nina Manzi initiative in your area? Find out how you can help and make a difference by clicking here.
Acknowledgements:
Original article written by: Nia Louw
Photograph supplied by: Nia Louw
Get your community involved
Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.
Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.
Know your rights – how local government works
It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.
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