In a ground-breaking new approach to hygiene promotion, WaterAid is working with the Government of Nepal to reach thousands of moms and babies at immunization clinics.
In Nepal, a new mother will take her baby to an immunization clinic at least five times in the first nine months of the child’s life – making these clinics an excellent opportunity to promote hygiene behaviour change and improved health.
By embedding hygiene promotion, such as teaching moms when to wash their hands, how to safely prepare their food, during a routine visit as part of Nepal’s existing routine immunization programme, this innovative project has the potential to really change the way the hygiene and public health sectors work together.
A participant reads one of the program pieces which includes a description of five key hygiene behaviours. Photo credit: WaterAid/Mani Karmacharya
Handwashing is critical to a child’s health
Around the world, diarrhea remains a leading cause of death among children under the age of five. This is due, in part, to the lack of safe water, toilets and hygiene practices. Handwashing with soap alone can reduce childhood diarrhea by more than 40%, as well as reduce other fatal infections such as acute respiratory infections.
This approach is the first of its kind in the world. If successful, it has the potential to be rolled around the world – helping to save thousands of children’s lives and to keep them and their families healthy.
Stories from Jarjarkot in Nepal
Ashmita
“This is my second baby. She is nine days old. My elder daughter got all the immunisations. But immunisation is not sufficient for staying healthy. We have to maintain personal hygiene.
For my new baby, I have to change my clothes every day. The kitchen where we prepare food has to be clean. The utensils, washing point and surroundings have to be clean. If we do not maintain cleanliness, the baby gets infected with lots of diseases, so hygiene plays very important role in our life.
The first thing about changing our behaviour is to start within ourselves. If I want to keep my daughter clean and healthy, then I have to do it in my daily life so that my daughter can learn.”
Swala Kumari
“I have been working as a Female Community Health Volunteer for 20 years. My main duty is to raise health awareness among children under five and pregnant women. I also advise mothers about their environment, hygiene and health.
Diseases like pneumonia, malnutrition and diarrhoea are very common in our village. The water source is not well protected and it gets contaminated easily, and hygiene behaviour is not good at all. It is sad that some children are still dying due to malnutrition and diarrhoea.
I am glad to be involved in the government’s immunization campaign. I feel great serving children and pregnant women in the community. We are improving, but there are challenges as well.”
The hygiene promotion through immunization project is being led by the Nepal Ministry of Health and Population, with financial and technical support from WaterAid.
