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A young Ivorian boy washes his hands in the village of Monleu after using a latrine. This rural community of 365 residents in western Ivory Coast was once ravaged by cholera. The water­borne disease causes severe diarrhoea and rapid dehydration, and can result in death within hours.

A young boy from Monleu washes his hands.

Photo: Christian Bastiansen/̽»¨¾«Ñ¡

But preventing cholera is simple, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ health workers told the village's residents. Following their advice, people began using toilets, instead of defecating in the open, and washing their hands with clean water and soap. As a result, Monleu has not seen a single case of the deadly disease in more than a year.

With the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡'s help, the community is trying to keep it that way. They have created a committee that works to ensure that everyone uses the toilet—and that anyone who violates the rule pays a fine. They are also encouraging their neighbouring villages to adopt similar hygiene practices and help prevent the spread of disease.