Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Let us understand the term WASH
The acronym WASH denotes access to clean & sufficient drinking water, adequate sanitation and hygiene. WASH program is crucial for good hygiene practices, student school attendance, health improvement, life expectancy, reduce illness and socio-economic development. Access to WASH services contributes to prevention of outbreaks of life threatening WASH-related diseases like cholera, typhoid, dengue etc.
How does HFHF contribute:
HFHF runs awareness drives in urban slums, and other areas to sensitise, inform and educate communities and categorically children to inculcate WASH practises in their daily life for good health. Short term community based programmes are organized to address issues related to WASH, as lack of Wash practices can result into serious health hazards, diminish efficiency of working family members and impose burden on children, elderly and women. Children must grow in a clean environment to stay sound in body, mind and spirit.
WASH at the learning centre of HFHF:
Most of the children who are enrolled in our learning centre come in with poor personal hygiene, which is a concern. Weekly lessons of WASH, teaches them to carefully work on good hygiene practices each day for a healthy body and fit mind. It includes lessons on cleaning hands using soap or ash and clean water, everyday bathing, oral hygiene, respiratory hygiene (i.e. sneezing, coughing and breathing), food hygiene at home (cleaning of hands before & after each meal), washroom hygiene and laundry hygiene at home. Good WASH practices contribute towards increased student attendance in the class, reduced hygiene-related diseases and provides a hale & hearty classroom environment that protects children from health hazards and exclusion. Through WASH program children have been appointed as cleanliness ambassadors to spread awareness on good hygiene practices, usage of clean water and sanitation in their families and communities.
Girls are sensitized on Menstrual Hygiene, so that they can be at ease at home and not worry about the cultural taboos prevalent in their societies around menstruation and also not miss their school.
CASE STORY
Two sisters who are enrolled in the learning centre of HFHF had no knowledge about oral hygiene. They would neither brush their teeth nor clean their tongue. The two little girls from low income family were not showing everyday good hygiene. Their dirty clothes, lack of proper oral care and breathing hygiene demonstrated unsanitary living habits and practices. Weekly lessons of WASH and distribution of a few hygiene essentials worked wonders for the two little girls. Now, they have started working on good hygiene practices each day, and are more actively involved in classroom activities.