Health and Hygiene Education

This project is part of Connect International’s TAZAMO Program, a community development program aiming to improve community health conditions with low-cost community development (SMART Devs) and water and sanitation technologies (SMART Techs).

Goals overview

This project will promote improved pit latrines as a solution to the sanitation problems in the area, where most people use traditional latrines of poor quality or none at all. SHIPO will introduce low cost pit latrines in the area to make safe sanitation accessible to everybody. The project will include further intensive awareness raising by local water and sanitation groups. 400 pit latrines will be constructed for 2.500 people and 12.500 people will have improved knowledge and awareness with regard to hygiene and sanitation.

Current status

The communities that will be assisted through the project currently have only a few improved latrines in their village. Knowledge on hygiene and sanitation is limited, and waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea and stomach problems are widely spread.

Project plan

The project includes the following steps:
1) Formation of Water and Sanitation Committees (Watsan)
2) Formation of Village Action Groups (VAGs)
3) Construction of 400 pit latrines
4) Training of watsan committees and VAG leaders in health and hygiene education
5) Awareness raising campaign in the communities on health, hygiene, waterborne diseases and maintenance of latrines.
6) Evaluation and final reporting

This project will promote improved pit latrines as a solution to the sanitation problems in the area. The majority of the people in Njombe and Ludewa districts are using traditional latrines of poor quality, or don’t have a latrine at all. SHIPO will introduce low cost pit latrines in the area, in order to make safe sanitation accessible to everybody. The project will include further intensive awareness raising by the local water and sanitation groups. Through Village Action Groups villagers will receive health, hygiene and sanitation training in order to improve their knowledge on personal hygiene, family hygiene, water related diseases, etc.

Expected outcomes

• 12500 people will gain knowledge and awareness on WASH

SHIPO will facilitate the formation of Village Action Groups and Water and Sanitation committees in the communities. The role of these groups is to monitor the construction process and facilitate the sensitization process in the community regarding water and sanitation issues. The Village Action Groups will remain to follow up on the activities, with support of SHIPO.

Connect International and its partner organizations in Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique have made efforts to improve access to safe drinking water and reduce waterborne diseases, by introducing simple, affordable and locally producible water and sanitation techniques in combination with awareness raising campaigns. In this way long-term sustainability is ensured.