Health and Hygiene Session Report

Shelter and WASH support for the Temporarily Dislocated people from North Waziristan Agency living among host communities in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Pakistan (Districts Bannu, Lakki Marwat and DI Khan)

“If you want to impress, please stay fresh.”

Venue: Male Cluster- Barand Kalay 2 Open Shelter, Female Cluster-Ihsan Ullah House

Subject: Health and Hygiene Session at Village Barand Kalay.2 U/C Bakha Khel wazir

Male Cluster Facilitator: Amir Hamza Co-Facilitator: Marid Ullah CRC Member

Female Cluster Facilitator: Ms. Maria Rehman Co-Facilitator: Hanifa bb

Participants: TDPs of North Waziristan Agency and Host Communities total-55

Date: 12/08/2015 Reported by: Amir Hamza

Abstract

The level of knowledge on health and hygiene within the TDPs Families is limited. Poor hygiene and health practices restricts the socio-economic, psychological and health wellbeing of the TDPs especially females and children’s. To create a comprehensive overview of the methods and activities of good hygiene practices in TDPs families’ health and hygiene session was arranged for Male, female and children. The program has resulted in an increased health and hygiene awareness among TDPs and changes in behavior related to Personal, Domestic and Environmental hygiene. Recommendations for further improvement include installation of latrines and water pumps for socio-economic improvements to increase income available for health and hygiene investment. Health and hygiene education session are especially important for TDPS living in temporary adjustment as they are at risk of many diseases, including soil- and water-transmitted intestinal parasites, because of poor sanitation, unclean water, and lack of personal hygiene. Females are particularly vulnerable to these factors, especially due to poor menstrual health, security issues, and gendered socio-economic repercussions, lack of water and sanitation. Poor menstrual health, in the form of using unsanitary solutions to get through the menstrual period, is often due to poor access to information about menstruation. Health and hygiene education is important and effective because relatively simple hygienic activities, such as hand-washing with soap, may prevent many of these diseases.

Following are the objectives of Session.

Objective of Session:

1. To improve Personal hygiene and health of the TDPs2. To develop knowledge, attitude, and skills in managing health and hygiene issues.3. To sensitize communities to use health and hygiene practices in their daily life.4. To explain principles and approaches to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in

emergencies.5. TDPs may receive an introduction to water, sanitation, and hygiene issues.

Methodology

1. Practical Demonstration.2. Lecture methodology3. Pictorial guide4. Brushers, pamphlets and charts5. IEC material6. Hygiene awareness walk

Session in Brief

Health and hygiene session was organized in village Barand Kalay.2 UC Bakha Khel wazir on 12th August, 2015, the session was facilitated by Amir Hamza “Male side” and Ms. Maria Rehman “Female side” with the support of co-facilitator Mr. Marid Ullah and Hanifa bb respectively. Total 55 participants “30 male and 25 female” participated in the session. Male and female session was arranged separately at different venues in the same village.

Proceeding of the session

Session was properly started with the few versus of Holy Quran by Saeed Ullah from session participants after that an introductory session of facilitator and participants was made to develop interaction. Moreover Muslim Hands International Facilitator provided a brief introduction of Organizations Involve in the project. Objectives of the session were also shared and discussed with the participants. Verbally Norms for session were set by the participants themselves.To know about the Attitude, skills and knowledge towards the good practices of health and hygiene a series of questions were asked from the participants, the graph below shows the results of the pretest questions.

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Result of Pre-test Analysis

yes No

After providing an overview of all pre essentials facilitator came to the topic of Health and hygiene, in which he firstly made their concept clear about hygiene that what is hygiene, So according to World Health Organization (WHO), "Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases” for what purpose this session were deliver and what will be the main components going to be covered in session. Secondly facilitator described the basic types of Hygiene i.e. personal, domestic and Environmental. On these three types he discussed to make them understand about the practices and methods of regarding health and hygiene and their good practices.

Personal Hygiene “Clean hands prevent germs from spreading”

The importances of personal hygiene were discussed in detail and the 10 steps of Hands washing were practically demonstrated during the session and the participants were in the practical demonstration.with these the participants were also briefed about the importance of regular bathing, protection, daily cleanliness of face, eyes, feet, cutting hair & nails. The team practically demonstrated nail cutting process, to be adopted in daily routine. IEC material and Pictures were also shared with the participants for their understanding and more clarity. slogan and messages associated to them were also discussed i.e. “Infection control is in your hands “ while eating food the germs enter in our body that leads to various diseases, “Always be clean, practice good hygiene” wear clean clothes and polish their shoes on daily basis.

Some participants share their experiences about personal hygiene practices and how they protect themselves from disease due to these practices.

Domestic Hygiene

“Keep your homes and surroundings clean” The facilitators delivered the lecture regarding domestic hygiene to participants. They were told to keep the house clean, that include kitchen, rooms, latrine and courtyard. The focus of the discussion was on keeping the latrine and kitchens clean, use of clean utensils, which may result in the health and economic benefits, when someone suffer from the diseases, he/she has to consult a doctor for which huge amount of money is spent on the treatment. If the same practices are domestically applied, one will be in a position to escape diseases and save money.

The participants were sensitized on the importance of use of latrine and hand washing, the hand washing steps(Wet the hands properly with water, rub the hands with soap, rub both the hands with each other, rub the palm of one hand on the back of other and similarly repeat on the other hand, rub the fingers of both hands with each other, rub the closed hand in the palm of other hand and repeat to the other, put the thumb with palm and rub, rub collectively the fingers of one hand on palm of other in a circle and repeat to the other, wash both the hands for 20 seconds and then dry it in the air) were practically demonstrated and the critical timings(washing hands before, feeding to the children, cooking, defecation and games etc) for hand washing were discussed thoroughly through IEC materials.

Environmental Hygiene

“Less pollution is the best solution”. The facilitators emphasized over the cleanliness of drains, streets, drinking water supply schemes and solid waste management moreover. Different techniques to manage the waste materials like reusable, resalable and disposable waste materials were taught to them. "Removing harmful things from the road is an act of charity”. The technique of waste disposal i.e. burring in ground or burning was discussed. They further told them that disposable waste materials are those materials which make the environment unhygienic, harmful and which need to burry in ground or burn. The facilitators practically burned the rough plastics and papers, and buried in the ground. By changing knowledge, attitudes and practices rather than simply providing a latrine the community led total sanitation approach empowers people to analyses the magnitude and risk of the environmental pollution caused by open defecation.

Water purification

Water purification methods were also one of the important activities of the session. Three methods for the water purification was discussed and practically demonstrated.

Purification through boiling

The facilitators practically took a steel pot, poured water in it and boiled it for five minutes. They told them that to safe now the water in clean pots and use it for drinking purposes.

Purification through sun light

The facilitators practically took an empty plastic bottle and removed the colored label. They put water in the bottle and shake it well. Then they told them that to keep this in sunlight for 6 hours. They also added that if there is cloud and sunlight is not available then keep it for two days.

Purification through Equa-Tabs

The facilitators told that Equa-Tabs are used for the purification of water. They further added that the number of tablets depends upon the quantity of water. 2 tablets (67mg) are used for the purification of 10 liters of water. They practically demonstrated and added that when the tablets got mix in the water then use it after 30 minutes. The facilitators emphasized that always keep away the tablets from the reach of children.

O.R.S Preparation

ORS is most commonly used in the diarrheal diseases; facilitators shared the methods of ORS preparation and practically demonstrate the process of ORS preparation. For the said purpose 4 glasses of boiled water was collected in a pot, 8 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 lemon was mixed with it and ORS was ready. The facilitators told them that the domestically prepared ORS is easy, less time consuming and economically instead of buying it from market.

Following feedback were collected at the end of session from the participants.

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Result of Post-test Analysis

yes No

Vote of thanks

Mr.Luqman (FRD) gave vote of thanks to the MHI team and all the participants and led the session to its official end.

Conclusion

Emergent activities aimed at promoting hygienic practices were performed in TDPs settlements . There are ways in which communities can change their practices as for as health and hygiene related to personal, Domestic and environmental hygiene is concerned. That should be the message communicated by any session of hygiene education. Hygiene education inform communities about how to collect, store, use and dispose of waste in hygienic ways. Emphasis should be placed on the use of latrine, hand washing practice, preparation of ORS, drinking of boil water, bathing practices and domestic cleanliness. Health and hygiene sessions were very much fruitful the participants shared their ideas about good practices of health and hygiene and especially to children’s and women’s since they are best promotes as they share everything with their family and friend what they learn in session. Promotion of Hygiene at community level is more effective because the communities having adoptive behaviors towards new practices.