 |
 |
Hygiene is the practice of keeping oneself and one's surroundings clean, especially in order to prevent illness or the spread of disease. Emergencies create an environment in which germs flourish: over crowding, traumatised immune systems, poor (or no) access to facilities, latrines, safe water and exposure to disease pathogens – all of which endanger people's health and survival.
Why promote hygiene in emergencies?
Research shows that hygienic practices can have an equal or greater impact on disease prevention than water supply and sanitation facilities. Modern thinking suggests that the two must go hand-in-hand to effectively combat disease and to boost healthy, sustainable hygienic behaviours.
What is hygiene promotion?
Hygiene promotion empowers people to prevent disease. It is the process of influencing people's knowledge, attitudes and practices, and an agency's knowledge and resources which together enable family members to avoid risky behaviours related to water use, waste and excreta disposal and cleaning habits.
The key ingredients to effective hygiene promotion are:
- A mutual sharing of information and knowledge.
- Mobilising communities for concerted action.
- Providing essential supplies and facilities.
We can group hygiene promotion into three categories:
- Reducing high-risk hygienic practices.
- Promoting appropriate use and maintenance of facilities.
- Promoting participation in programmes.
Such a multi-pronged approach should enable the affected community to practice hygienic behaviours and stay healthy.
To read more about hygiene promotion in emergencies, download the full chapter from the Behaviour Change in Emergencies Toolkit below.
