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About Hygiene & Sanitation

1.Only 26% of rural Indians have access to basic sanitation (Source: NFHS-III)

2.Even where water-sealed latrines have been constructed (especially in rural homes),they are not being used

3. The Result – Indians, particularly Indian children, die by millions every year because of Diarrhoeal Diseases, Malaria, Typhoid, Infective Hepatitis [Jaundice] and many such infectious diseases

4. These death and diseases can be easily prevented by accepting hygienic lifestyle and public sanitation

5. The best way to bring about this behavioural and cultural revolution is to begin with effective health education for the young

Causes

Causes
The main cause of this situation is:
1.Ignorance associated with the knowledge of micro-organisms as pathogens

2.A lack of cultural ethos associated with this knowledge

3.An overall lack of Hygiene & Sanitation infrastructure

4.Absence of hygienic practices
Effect

Effects
Infectious diseases like Diarrhoeal Diseases, Typhoid, Infectious Hepatitis, Poliomyelitis and Malaria-like vector-borne diseases are widely prevalent. These are a major cause of disease, death, and growth retardation, both physical and economical.
Short term goals

Short term goals
Primary care treatment like ORS and anti-malarial treatments are highly effective and affordable. The goal is to communicate this knowledge to the masses so that they may begin to effectively use these treatments
Prevention

Prevention

The key to prevention is Health Education on the subject of Hygiene & Sanitation, followed by a practical cultural change,

E.g. washing hands with soap before meals
5 Key Messages

5 Key Messages

Wash hands after going to toilet, and before eating, preparing or serving food, thereby preventing faeco-oral transmission of germs through fingers

Use water-sealed latrine for defecation, thereby preventing contamination by flies, field and fluid [water] transmitted pathogens, as well as prevention of foul odor

Maintain food hygiene by following the principles of cleaning hands, food articles & utensils; cross-contamination prevention; cooking hygienically and cold storage of left-over food

Maintain personal hygiene, especially having a daily bath and brushing of teeth

Protect the water sources; use water from deep-tube wells