This archive report was first published on 20 December 2019.
December 20, 2019, marked a day when the harsh realities of Burkina Faso's sanitation workers came to light. In the capital city of Ouagadougou, over half of the three million inhabitants rely on these workers to empty their latrines, according to city hall.
For workers like Sawadogo, a 45-year-old father of two, the job is a meager living that comes with a high risk of health complications. 'I've been doing this job for 15 years without protection, although we often find broken glass, bottles, syringes,' he said.
Issa Zongo, a 38-year-old tank cleaner for 13 years, echoed Sawadogo's sentiments. 'Gloves and boots often stop us from working so we end up taking them off,' he said.
The risks associated with this job are numerous, with workers exposed to cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis through their exposure to the sludge. Cuts can lead to tetanus or septicaemia, further exacerbating the situation.
Despite the risks, the pay is meager, ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 CFA francs (between $26 / 23 euros and $43 / 38 euros) for a cleaning job, depending on the size of the tank.
Alidou Bande, head of an association campaigning for the rights of sanitation workers, described the situation as dire. 'Cesspit cleaners are marginalised, forgotten, left behind,' he said.
