Introduction
Oxfam distributes hygiene kits to support hygiene promotion and watsan activities in most Humanitarian situations.
The terms ‘hygiene kits’, ‘NFIs’ and ‘NFRIs’ are almost interchangeable in Oxfam-speak, but the correct term is Hygiene kit. NFI and NFRI can cover any non-food Item and so encompass all sorts of items distributed in humanitarian responses such as cooking pots or clean up tools. A hygiene kit would also include the water storage and collection items (although presently in Oxfam budgets they do appear as separate line items) that are an integral part of the hygiene kit.
Hygiene kits are distributed to families and so the number of items in a kit may depend on local family size.
An Oxfam ‘hygiene kit’ is designed to promote hygiene within the family, and may also include certain items considered to restore dignity such as shampoo for women. A hygiene kit should enable;
- storage of safe drinking water at household level,
- good practice around drinking water use
- all family members able to practice handwashing at key times,
- the washing of self and clothing,
- management of babies and young children’s faeces
- dedicated water containers for anal cleansing (if used)
- management of menstruation
- practice of reasonable food hygiene
Composition
A hygiene kit might comprise:
- Water storage containers – Oxfam bucket, jerry can or local equivalent.
- Water purification tablets or water filter
- A water collection container – either another bucket without tap, jerry can or local equivalent
- A jug for regular water use
- Cups for drinking or scooping water from container
- Washing bowl (plus extra small one for washing during menstruation if necessary)
- Body soap, regular and/or antiseptic
- Laundry soap (bar not powder for ease of transport and longer lasting)
- Towel
- Container for water for anal cleansing
- Sanitary/ menstrual protection – cloth or disposables. (See women’s sanitary protection briefing paper)
- Baby’s nappies – cloth or disposable
Disposable sanitary napkins or nappies are not recommended except for initial phase unless an effective waste disposal system is in place.
- Trowel or other small scoop to clean up after babies or young children
- Potty
- ORS
Additional items requested for personal hygiene might be:
- Hair combs (sometimes nit combs for crowded camps)
- Nail clippers
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste/powder or locally used twigs
- Shampoo
- Underwear (men women and children)
- Sarongs, lessos or local equivalent for sleeping or bathing.
All items, and in particular these ‘additional items’, depend on what is already available at the household level, the expected length of displacement, local income opportunities, and local expressed needs.
Partners
Partners who are new to either Hygiene promotion work or Humanitarian response and have not previously been involved in either decisions around items to be included in an Oxfam hygiene kit (or latrine or toilet cleaning kit), or budgeting, distribution etc need to be given early guidance and prior support to prevent them from diverting from Oxfam’s understanding of these terms. A pre-prepared sample list or suggested price range for items can prevent teams wasting time trying to re-assemble pre-disaster utility-room or bathroom-cabinet contents. Vouchers can also be considered if there is an adequate market.
Items for clean up or latrine cleaning and maintenance are additional to the hygiene kits.
Solid Waste collection kits might include;
- plastic gloves
- masks
- plastic boots
- bars disinfecting soap
- shovels
- rakes
- wheelbarrow
- solid waste collection point –concrete ring or wire cylinder plus bin liners
Latrine Cleaning Kit might include;
- plastic gloves
- masks
- plastic boots
- scrubbing brushes
- disinfectant
- disinfecting soap
- bucket
- cloth/rag
Not to be confused with the ‘Oxfam Kits’ that refer to the kitchen food kits which Oxfam supplies to agencies undertaking Therapeutic Feeding Centres (TFCs) and supplementary feeding.