Community Health Through Hygiene

The simple act of washing hands with soap and water can reduce diarrheal diseases by over 40 percent.  

(Both statistics from the World Health Organization)

Having access to clean, safe water alone does not necessarily improve a community’s health. If individuals do not have a basic understanding of life-saving hygiene practices, water that is safe at the source may become contaminated before it is consumed. Lifewater’s Community Health through Hygiene program focuses on promoting and understanding how diseases are transmitted and promoting essential hygiene practices, such as the importance of washing hands, using latrines, and preventing the contamination of safe water during access, transport, storage and use. The program includes three modules that incorporate these practices: Handwashing at Critical Times, Safe Fecal Disposal, and Keeping Water Safe.

All Community Health through Hygiene lessons have been developed using sound community development principles and are adapted by the in-country partner to meet the needs of each community. Lifewater concentrates on training in-country partners who then teach the material in communities with languages that are familiar and methods that are culturally appropriate. This approach encourages sustainability and the multiplication of efforts as the community members become equipped to train others. Lifewater uses techniques and resources for the trainings that can be easily transferred and maintained in different cultures and locales, allowing the knowledge to spread quickly.

Participatory Training, the technique used to teach the lessons, allows people to identify their own problems and develop their own solutions that work best for their culture and resources. Using pictures, skits, brainstorming sessions, and questions, community members are empowered as they engage in these activities. In the process, they discover answers for themselves utilizing their own resources and talents. The goal is for the whole community to understand and implement good hygiene behaviors, and as a result, fight water-related diseases more effectively. With better health, the community experiences greater productivity and a longer lifespan. With demonstrable results, community members are encouraged and empowered to share their knowledge with others.

The Community Health through Hygiene lessons use a holistic approach, integrating practical hygiene messages with related biblical principles thus addressing people’s physical and spiritual needs throughout the training. The realization that the God of all creation loves them, along with the new knowledge of hygiene and health, changes how they view the world and themselves, and often brings about life-changing transformation.

“The information that we train with is life-saving in and of itself. However, for me the exciting part of the training is seeing people realize their God-given potential and gifts. They come alive and discover new things about themselves and their community as they participate throughout the training.” - Lifewater volunteer field trainer.