Improving hygiene
A task for community leaders
The community health workers were trained on how to conduct a hygiene survey. They were provided boots to enable them to go to difficult areas. The hygiene survey showed many gaps in hygiene as follows and these were presented to local councils of the community who developed strategies to improve hygiene. Here is a summary of the hygiene concerns observed.
Highlights from Namulaba Hygiene Survey by Community Health Workers 8 October 2007
Homes visited: Masiko 24 homes, Waggala 23 homes; Kitto 17 homes; Kasininya 10 homes; Lunnya 9 homes; Kasala 3 homes.
About the Residential House
Out of the 87 homes visited 83 had a residential house but 4 did not have.
The height of the walls of the house was 7.5 meters and above in 55 of the homes and less than 7.5 meters in 32 of the homes.
In 60 of the homes the light in the house was enough and in 27 it was not enough.
In 46 of the houses the ventilation was enough, in 22 it was no enough and in 15 it was blocked completely.
In 28 of the houses there was something to protect people in that house from mosquito bites but in 51 there was none.
About the Kitchen
In 50 of the homes there was a kitchen, in 29 there was none and in 5 it was still under construction.
In 21 of the kitchens there was a smoke outlet and in 29 there was none.
Drying of plates
In 57 of the homes there was a rack for drying plates and cups but in 29 there was none.
About rubbish disposal
In 7 homes there was a waste water pit but in 57 there was none.
In 67 of the homes the compound was clean but in 18 it was not.
In 63 of the homes rubbish was littered everywhere, in 9 there was a rubbish pit in 6 the rubbish was burned.
About the bathroom
In 44 of the homes there was a bathroom but in 40 there was none.
In 45 of the homes the bathroom was used but in 17 it was not used.
In 35 of the homes the bathroom was cleaned but in 23 it was not cleaned.
About the Latrine
In 65 of the homes there was a Latrine but in 21 there was none.
Alternatives to Latrines included digging pits in 7 of the homes, using latrines of neighbors in 2 homes or go to the bush in 10 homes.
In 17 of the homes there was water and soap available for washing hands after use of the latrine but in 65 there were not.
In 13 of the homes human waste was seen around but in 64 it was not.
About Water
In 71 of the homes the water was collected from piped wells, in 6 it was collected from a running river and 5 from a pond.
In 35 of the homes the distance to the water source was 500 meters and above and in 48 it was less than 500 meters.
In 44 of the homes drinking water was boiled in 3 it was filtered but in 33 nothing was done