The municipality of Kati in Mauritania recently concluded its inter-quarter cleanliness competition, which aimed to encourage residents to take responsibility for maintaining a clean environment. The competition, which lasted for three months, was organized by the Kati municipal council and involved four quarters. The event was attended by the Central Sub-Prefect of Kati, the Coordinator of Quarter Chiefs, and representatives from the quarters.
The competition focused on clearing drains to prevent flooding and improve the living environment. The organizer's goal was to make sanitation a shared responsibility among residents. A jury evaluated the quarters based on the amount of sludge cleared, mobilization, innovation, evacuation, sensitization, quality of clearing, and adherence to hygiene measures. The evaluation process used a common and transparent scoring grid.
The jury awarded the first prize to Farada quarter with a score of 87.4/100, for clearing 66.40 cubic meters of sludge, including 15.60 cubic meters under culverts. The quarter received eight wheelbarrows, eight picks, 20 shovels, 14 rakes, 16 pairs of gloves, and 16 pairs of boots. Farada also won the special prize for mobilization, with additional items, including 10 wheelbarrows, 12 picks, 30 shovels, 20 rakes, 20 pairs of gloves, and 20 pairs of boots.
N'tominicoro quarter secured the second position with a score of 81.2/100, clearing 58.07 cubic meters of sludge. Kati Coro quarter came third with a score of 54.8/100, clearing 11.119 cubic meters of sludge, and received six wheelbarrows, six picks, 10 shovels, six rakes, 10 pairs of gloves, and 10 pairs of boots. Koko quarter ranked fourth with a score of 45.6/100, clearing 9.80 cubic meters of sludge, and received a participation prize.
The competition's jury recommended that the initiative be sustained and become a periodic event in the commune's agenda, with a permanent mechanism for maintaining drains in collaboration with municipal technical services. The event concluded with a ceremony to award recognition certificates to quarter chiefs and young people for their exemplary mobilization.
The Kati municipal council initiated the competition to promote a culture of cleanliness and encourage residents to take ownership of maintaining their environment. By doing so, the council aimed to prevent flooding and improve the overall living conditions in the area. The competition's success was attributed to the strong mobilization of residents and their commitment to a collective cause.
The inter-quarter cleanliness competition in Kati demonstrated the importance of community involvement in maintaining a clean and healthy environment. The event not only encouraged residents to take responsibility for their surroundings but also provided an opportunity for them to work together towards a common goal. The competition's impact is expected to be long-lasting, with plans to make it a recurring event in the commune's agenda.
Key points
- The competition promoted shared responsibility for sanitation among residents.
- The event encouraged residents to take ownership of maintaining their environment.
- The competition is expected to become a periodic event in the commune's agenda.
