Hygiene

“Improved hygiene practices lead to better health, confidence and growth”

Improved hygiene practice is critical for preventing the spread of infectious diseases and helping people lead long and healthy lives. It also prevents them from missing out on important economic activities and work effectiveness.

Improved hygiene means avoiding illness and spending less on health care as well as securing a family’s social status and help individuals maintain self-confidence.

Important hygiene behaviours are difficult to practice without the right knowledge and skills, so EPDA promotes and creates awareness on community behaviours and practices.

EPDA’s response

Behaviour and social change are at the core of EPDA’s community hygiene promotion activities. We focus on four key behaviours that vulnerable people and their families maintain proper hygiene: handwashing with soap, safe disposal of faeces, safe handling and storage of drinking water, and menstrual hygiene.

EPDA work through emergency responses and development projects to improve hygiene by:

Promoting hygiene behaviours: We mobilize communities to promote handwashing, hygiene practices in schools and sanitation.

Supporting girls and women with menstrual hygiene management: We work to strengthen confidence, knowledge and skills among girls and women to manage their menstruation safely, know what to ask for when they get their period, and use clean materials and facilities.

Engaging with partners: We help improve hygiene conditions in communities, workplaces and other settings by working with the stakeholders to increase hygiene awareness.

Strengthening the hygiene sector: We work with local government institutions, decentralized organs and civil society collaborators to strengthen policies, planning, monitoring and capacity development.