KEY HYGIENE BEHAVIOURS: A SHORT GUIDE

7 KEY HYGIENE BEHAVIOURS

Safe use of Toilets: a toilet must encourage hygiene behaviour and provide privacy.

And must have:

• Easy access (close to a class room for example)
• Suitable dimension with enough capacity
• A handwashing place with soap, water and cleanising materials
• Operation and maintenance plans with budget
• Proper footpaths, gardens and brightly painted walls
• No hazardous materials/items
• Adequate supply of sanitary pads for girls' toilets
• Dustbins/pits must be emptied regularly

Handwashing with Soap and Water:

• Hand washing with soap and water prevents diarrhea and pneumonia.
• and washing with soap can reduce diarrheal incidences by 44%.
• Hand washing with water alone is not enough. Hands must be washed with soap in running water for at least 20 seconds.
• Always wash hands before and after handling food after using toilets, after working, playing and after handling pets/animals.
• Tippy taps are easy and effective in providing running water.
• Institutionalize daily mass handwashing in schools before meals.

Use of Safe Drinking Water:

• Regular cleaning and sealing of leakages is must to ensure water quality.
• Boil water for atleast 3 minutes as it is the most effective way to kill germs.
• Use ceramic filteration or candle filters which have 99.9999% fecal coliform removal efficiency.
• Always use clean container to store drinking water.

Waste Management:

• Reduce, Re-use and recycle waste and practice waste segregation.
• Dispose solid and liquid waste quickly and safely.
• Clean classroom and surroundings regularly.

Personal Hygiene:

• Promote regular brushing, bathing, cutting nails, washing and wearing clean clothes.

Food Hygiene:

• Wash hands before preparing food.
• Wash vegetables and cook food regularly.
• Use safe water for cooking and drinking.
• Food must be stored properly.
• Plates, mugs, ladles and utensils must be washed properly.

Menstruation Hygiene Management

• Pre-menstual symptoms are: pain in abdomen, bloated and puffy feeling, headache, emotional and psychological change.
• School girls are affected psychologically and physcially due to various issues such as cleanliness of toilets, privacy, availability and disposing of sanitary pads.
• School should make changing rooms available which offer privacy with soap, water and sanitary pads.
• School should provide education on menstruation hygiene management.

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PRODUCED BY COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL HEALTH DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH & SPORTS, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION WITH SUPPORT FROM UNICEF.