[Watch] Toilets Of Despair: Dirty, Broken Toilets at Clinics Speak of Systemic Neglect

pit toilets
Fight to eradicate pit toilets at schools continues. (Photo: Ndivhuwo Mukwevho)
pit toilets
Fight to eradicate pit toilets at schools continues. (Photo: Ndivhuwo Mukwevho)

Imagine waiting in long queues at a primary health facility, only to be met with dirty toilets. Our community journalists in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State (Montsho Matlala, Sandile Mbili and Molefi Sompane) surveyed 31 clinics and community health centres, and spoke to 313 patients who shared their ‘dehumanising’ experiences. This is what they found:

75% of toilets were out of order
91% lacked toilet paper
72% had no soap
40% had visible faecal matter or urine on floors and walls

This is more than an inconvenience—it’s a public health crisis. Watch to learn more.

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