Surkhandarya Water Supply & Sanitation Project
The problem:
Surkhandarya faced significant public health challenges related to poor sanitation and hygiene practices, which were prevalent among the population and, particularly, school students. These issues contributed to a higher incidence of sanitation-related diseases and a general decline in public health standards. The lack of effective hygiene education and practice among schoolchildren and the broader community exacerbated these problems, resulting in a pressing need for a systematic approach to improve sanitary conditions and prevent disease.
The solution:
InfoCapital Group LLC (ICG) developed and implemented a comprehensive hygiene promotion program under the Surkhandarya Water Supply & Sanitation Project. The solution involved a multi-faceted approach to educate and engage the community in better hygiene practices:
1. Program Development: ICG designed a hygiene promotion program based on a thorough understanding of current behaviors and effective communication channels in the target districts. The program was innovative and scientifically grounded, aiming to improve public health through enhanced sanitation and hygiene practices.
2. Three Main Approaches:
- Mass Media Utilization: The program leveraged mass media to disseminate key hygiene messages widely. This approach ensured that important information reached a broad audience and reinforced the importance of good hygiene practices.
- Community and School Events: Expert teams organized a series of community and school events to engage directly with residents and students. These events were designed to be interactive and impactful, helping to embed good hygiene practices in daily routines.
- Existing Health Channels: The program utilized existing official health channels to integrate hygiene education into established frameworks. This helped to reinforce messages and ensure continuity in promoting hygiene practices.
3. Training and Education:
- Training Sessions: ICG conducted 41 trainings and 3 seminars, attended by 1,145 participants. These sessions targeted a diverse audience, including interviewers, members of Public Sanitation Groups (PSG), local media representatives, active women from mahalla committees, medical workers, teachers, and local inhabitants.
- Development of Training Materials: The team developed a comprehensive set of training materials, including methodologies, programs, scenarios, tests, questionnaires, and distribution materials. These resources were crucial for conducting effective trainings and ensuring consistent delivery of hygiene messages.
4. Community Engagement: The program actively involved local communities in Surkhandarya, particularly focusing on schoolchildren, to instill good hygiene habits from an early age. This approach aimed to create a sustainable impact by fostering long-term changes in hygiene behaviors and improving overall public health.
Through these efforts, ICG successfully improved sanitation and hygiene practices in the region, contributing to a reduction in disease incidence and enhancing the health and well-being of the population.
Start date:
08/2011
Services:
Client:
Project Management Unit of Uzbek Communal Services Agency
