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Day: May 19, 2022

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Hygiene Behavior Change Campaign

The Hygiene Behavior Change Campaign is a sensitization program earmarked for 10 communities in Igbo-Eze LGA. The goal is to improve hygiene in the targeted locations by raising awareness on the dangers of a lackadaisical attitude to hygiene practices. Radio jingles were aired on three radio stations -Solid FM, Voice FM, and Lion FM to increase the span of influence. Also, television skits/jingles were used to drive home messages. 

These activities were executed over a three-month period to further drive the hygiene messages in the communities, local government, and state. Though, the campaign continued over a longer period. To ensure the continuity of the campaign, 40 volunteers were trained on the process of engaging households. These Voluntary Hygiene Promoters (VHP), also distribute hygiene packs during the period of sensitization. 

They reached a total of 2,720 households across the LGA. All the households were being educated on the three key behaviors- the use of facemask, handwashing, and social distancing. their various assigned location on safe hygiene practices like proper handwashing amongst others. Also, the HBC Campaign market dissemination continued in three markets namely; Nkwo Aji, Eke Oji and Eke Amufie. 

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Infection, Prevention, and Control Training

Healthcare workers are the backbone of an effective healthcare system. Healthcare workers are often frontliners providing essential services at the community level. Based on the sensitivity of their jobs, they are frequently exposed to infections and diseases. Understanding the constant risk healthcare workers are exposed to, SSDO and WaterAid Nigeria saw the need to organize a workshop.

On Friday, 11th February 2022, WaterAid Nigeria, partnered with South Saharan Social Development Organization, (SSDO) to strengthen the capacity of health workers in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria. In attendance were participants from different bodies, including representatives from the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, 21 Officers-in-Charge (OICs) of the selected healthcare facilities, and 14 Heads-of-Department of 14 selected LGAs.

The workshop was Facilitated by Dr. Kachy Ugwa, Community Health Specialist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu. He started with an introduction to IPC and standard precautions, using hand hygiene as a case note. He also covered several topics including; Understanding disease transmission, Basics of COVID 19, Environmental cleaning and disinfection, Transmission-based precautions, A risk-based approach to PPEs, Screening and triaging – the principle of screening, isolating, and notifying, IPC and WASH with emphasis on handwashing, social distancing, and the use of facemask as it relates to routine immunization, ante-natal and post-natal.

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Commemoration of World Toilet Day

Research shows that 123 million people don’t have access to decent toilet facilities in Nigeria. SSDO and WaterAid Nigeria are playing their part in creating awareness of the under-funded, poorly managed, and neglected toilet facilities in public places.

Life without toilets is dirty, dangerous, and undignified. Public health depends on adequate toilet facilities. Its availability drives improvement in gender equality, education, and the environment. 

For Enugu state to be Open Defecation Free by 2025, sanitation and toilet facilities need to be a top priority.

The commemoration of World Toilet Day was celebrated with key stakeholders from CSO partners, the Small-Town Unit of the State Ministry of Water Resources, and the media at a radio engagement. The theme for this year’s World Toilet Day was “Valuing Toilets”. The theme aims to stress the absolute necessity of toilets in our lives, communities, and the state at large.

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Commemoration of Global Handwashing Day

Do you know that handwashing is critical to preventing illness, especially Covid-19? Proper handwashing can reduce the rate of diarrhea by 40 percent and respiratory infection by 20 percent. Interestingly, 50 percent of food-related illnesses are caused by poor hand hygiene. 

The 15th of October is recognized the world over as Global Handwashing Day. a day dedicated to increasing advocacy and awareness of the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective way to prevent diseases. 

The theme of this year’s commemoration is tagged ‘The future is at hand, let’s move forward together.’ The activities for the celebration involved an outreach at a primary school in Enugu and a Radio program.

SSDO carried out a school outreach at Igbariam Nursery and Primary school, Achara Layout, Enugu state. The pupils were educated on the importance of handwashing and the steps for proper handwashing with soap as an effective way to prevent disease. This followed the distribution of soap and some handwashing facilities to the school. A total of 96 students, comprising of 36 males and 60 females were educated and as a result, this will be cascaded to the rest of the school during assembly. 

Also, there was a radio engagement at Solid FM to sensitize the public on the need for proper handwashing. The theme for the year was discussed extensively by the guests which included; the Enugu State Team Lead for WaterAid, a Medical Doctor from the Ministry of Health, a representative from the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Head of Program of South Saharan. 

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Situational Assessment for Health Care facilities in Enugu State

WaterAid conducted a situational assessment of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Primary Health Centers in Enugu state as part of our support to improve the WASH in health outcomes in the state. 

This process involved the stakeholder’s engagement, which had representatives from the Ministry of Water Resources, Small Town Unit, Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Bureau of Statistics, and Economic planning. Presentations were made on the current level of access to WASH in HCF. An addition was also made to the questionnaires for data collection. 

The second process was the training of enumerators across the 17 LGAs in Enugu State for data collection from HCFs. The exercise has been completed and data exported to the consultant for further analysis.