Handwashing

Proper hand washing (preferably with soap or a substitute such as ash or sand and vigorous rubbing of hands) when performed at critical times (before preparing food, eating, feeding of children, after using latrine and after cleaning of babies’ bottoms) is the single most effective way of preventing diarrhoeal diseases.

• PHP staff should include an assessment of motivation and barriers to handwashing in all rapid WASH assessments and baseline surveys.
• Handwashing should be addressed in all excreta disposal programmes, either at the latrine or in households – by the promotion of hand-washing techniques, and promotion and provision of soap or alternative. 
• All institutional and public latrines constructed by Oxfam should have hand-washing facilities provided with soap or an alternative.
• Ensure adequate drainage around all hand washing facilities.

Hygiene Kits

Oxfam distributes non-food items in the form of ‘hygiene kits’ to support WASH activities, for example to enable safe use of water and effective handwashing. The provision of culturally appropriate material for women to use for menstrual protection is an important consideration. Other items may also be included in accordance with available resources and community priorities.

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 bodies and clothing;
• Management of babies and young children’s faeces;
• Anal cleansing with dedicated water containers (if used);
• Management of menstruation;
• Practice of good food hygiene.

When implementing a distribution of hygiene kits:

• Ensure the provision of basic hygiene items according to Sphere 
• Consult with the affected community, in particular women, on the contents of the hygiene kit and the targeting criteria. (The items that are selected will depend on what is already available at the household level, the expected length of displacement, local income opportunities, and local expressed needs).
• Co-ordinate with the WASH Cluster to lobby for consistency in hygiene kit contents, to avoid duplication, and to identify opportunities for large-scale procurement and gaps in provision of NFIs.

• Investigate options for sourcing hygiene items through local markets with the support of logistics colleagues.
• Investigate options for distribution of vouchers or cash with EFSVL colleagues. 

• Ensure that all groups within affected communities understand and agree with the targeting criteria and that information sharing and feedback mechanisms are in place.
• Ensure that affected communities understand the purpose and how to use each NFI, through demonstrations etc.
• Consider issues of protection, gender and HIV & AIDS when designing distribution systems.
• Conduct post-distribution monitoring after distribution and record lessons learned within 3 weeks of distribution.

Information, Education and Communication (IEC) 

IEC interventions are a vital part of any health promotion programme because they help communities to take action to reduce public health risks. An effective IEC intervention seeks to understand the motivations for behaviour change amongst different target groups as well as the barriers to change. 

IEC materials and activities are an essential component of any WASH programme. WASH staff involved in the development of IEC should: 

• Undertake an assessment of IEC needs, local literacy levels and cultural and religious issues around public communication. The information gathered in the assessment provides the framework for a ‘communication plan’ that should describe intended audiences, IEC techniques, monitoring plans, logistics and budget.
• Collaborate with the affected community in developing IEC. Activities and materials should always be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
• Co-ordinate IEC plans with the WASH Cluster to ensure a collaborative approach, consistent with government policy is adopted.
• Pre-test IEC materials within the affected community.
• Ensure materials are logical and non-technical. 
• Make sure pictures are as accurate as possible and familiar to audience.
• Identify local motivating factors for behaviour change and design images based on these factors.
• Try to convey positive messages.
• Undertake regular monitoring of IEC activities – both for feedback on the IEC and to determine the impact of the IEC on WASH practices, and to modify approaches as appropriate.