Sulabh to extend its reach to 15 African countries

Addressing sanitation experts from across the world during the three-day 'World Toilet Summit' here, Sulabh founder Bindeshwar Pathak announced the decision to launch intensive campaign in these countries soon.

"The situation in India is similar to the African sub-continent in matters of sanitation and Sulabh Shauchalaya Model can easily be replicated to improve sanitation facilities in these countries," Pathak said.

He announced that Sulabh is going to construct five public toilets, 100 toilets in schools and 500 individual toilets in each of the 15 African countries.

The countries include South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Burkina Faso and Cameroon.

Around 2.6 billion people in these countries have no access to safe and hygienic toilets, Pathak said in a statement.

Sulabh has already trained sanitation professionals of these African countries, he said, adding that they plan to implement the technology in 50 such countries where the sanitation coverage is less than 50 per cent of the population.

The NGO also urged Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, who had earlier announced plans to adopt Sulabh Model to fulfil his dream to provide sanitation to all, to take necessary steps.