WaterAid Tanzania calls for enhanced WASH infrastructures

COAST REGION: WATERAID Tanzania has stressed the need for improved WASH infrastructures and hygiene education to ensure better health outcomes, particularly in underserved areas.

WaterAid Tanzania, Country Director, Ms Anna Mzinga made the remarks on Monday in Kisarawe during an event to mark the Global Handwashing Day where students from six schools creatively participated in a handwashing competition under the theme “Why Are Clean Hands Still Important?

She highlighted the crucial role of hand hygiene in reducing infections in healthcare facilities, preventing spread of infections and ensuring safe births.

“While we have made great strides in encouraging handwashing with soap through various interventions by NGOs and government led interventions such as MTU NI AFYA Phase II, our journey is not over yet,” she said.

According to WAT there is only approximately 40 per cent of households in Tanzania with access to handwashing stations, soap and water but of course with a disparity between urban and rural areas of which are faced with more challenges accessing basic hygiene services.

Ms Mzinga said that, hand hygiene in Tanzania’s schools remains a key concern as the survey revealed that 36 per cent of schools, lack access to basic handwashing facilities and the gap exists also in healthcare facilities.

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She further called upon the government to prioritise integrating and budgeting for hand hygiene in national response and resilience plans, as well as within the public health core programmes such as Reproductive and Child Health (RCH), Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and Nutrition Programmes.

She also urged donors to invest in programs that prioritise hand hygiene, promote access to hand hygiene facilities and contribute to both public health and economic resilience and institutions to implement a multi-faceted approach for hand hygiene, including promotion, accessible facilities, regular monitoring and behaviour reinforcement.

The event which aimed to raise awareness about the critical role of hand hygiene in preventing diseases and promoting better health in schools, healthcare facilities and the community was officiated by the Kisarawe District Commissioner, Mr Petro Magoti.

“I firmly believe that by celebrating this event, our children are clearly demonstrating how these behaviour changes significantly contribute to improving good hygiene in the fight against outbreaks and diseases caused by poor sanitation and hygiene in our community,” the RC said.

Global Handwashing Day, commemorated every year on October 15, highlights the importance of handwashing with soap and water as one of the most effective and affordable ways to prevent infections, illnesses and harmful germs.

This year’s celebration was special for Kisarawe District Council and WaterAid Tanzania since the phasing out of the project titled ‘Effectiveness of Hygiene Behaviour Change in 15 Health Care Facilities and 30 Schools in Kisarawe’.

WaterAid Tanzania and Kisarawe District Council celebrated, shared to and showed the world how the 45 institutions and the community in Kisarawe have been practicing and sustaining proper hygiene behaviours, especially handwashing.