Promoting sanitation and hygiene
in the 89 health facilities of Kasese district:
Published by; Geoffrey B. WASH Program officer KALI.
District Medical officer of Kasese and Sub county leaders after meeting with minister of Defence Dr. C.Kiyonga on issues of Sanitation & Nutritional improvement in kasese district at Bwera Trs College.
KALI in
partnership with Kasese district local government with funding from CDC Atlanta
through UVRI has been implementing a two month project on promoting Sanitation
and hygiene at health facilities in Kasese district. This involved
supporting the health facilities by installing hand washing and drinking water
stations, training health workers in general sanitation and hygiene, and
motivating health workers to use the water stations as platforms to teach their
patients about the importance of water treatment, hygiene, and sanitation.
These interventions also included; engaging with Health Unit Management
Committees to assure a self-sustaining program.
The health facilities have acted as
demonstration for good San&Hygiene to the community members who come for
treatment. It is believed that after practicing hand washing and taking clean
water at the health facility, community members will continue practicing the
same in their homes.
The project aimed at creating demand for
water treatment and hygiene and increasing access to hand washing and drinking
water facilities as well as engagement with the Health
Unit Management Committee (HUMC), sub county and district leadership
Hospitals, HC
IV, HC.III and HC II in Kasese well given due attention during this project.
Activities Conducted:
1. Conducted meetings with health workers at
health unit level
2. Conducted meetings with sub county leaders on
their roles and purpose of the project
3. Conducted meeting with District leaders on the
distribution plan,
Notes/Findings:
I.
It was found out that most health units do not
have access to water and those which had lacked constant supply at their
facilities and this was affecting sanitation and hygiene at large.
II.
It was found out that out of the 32 units
visited; only Kasanga PHC had functional hand washing facility near latrine
with soap fully an utilized.
III.
Most of the units Visited had hand washing
facilities only in the medical rooms but not near latrine.
IV.
Some of the health units Visited had latrines
not meeting sanitation conditions. Some of them had open defecation on and
around their latrines.
V.
VI.
It was also found out that water treatment was
also not given attention at health unit level. Workers agreed that they thought
tap water is always treated at the source, therefore safe.
VII.
All sub county leaders appreciated the project
innovation of improving sanitation at health unit level. Sub county chiefs and
LC.iii C/persons pledged for total support at the time of implementation.
1. Conducted leaders meeting with LC III
C/persons of Bukonzo west constituency,DHO’s team, LC.V District CDO, Medical
officers from; Hospitals of; Kilembe, Bwera,Kagando including Kasanga
HSD,Rwensande HSD,Hima Cement H/C IV.
This meeting
was on request of the minister to help mobilize the district stakeholders on
sanitation and hygiene promotion as well as come up with action issues
especially for those sub counties/households without latrines. The meeting was
build on the background ensuring health centers work as centers of excellence
in sanitation and hygiene which would roll down to communities through of
eradicating cholera and typhoid.
Result on training/meeting:
The sub
county leaders who attended the meeting have affirmatively started monitoring
Sanitation in their sub counties and arresting those without. New latrines have
been built in Bwera and Nyakiyumbu Sub counties.
2. Project launch with the MP Bukonzo West and
Minister of defence Dr.C.Kiyonga with the entire public at Mpondwe Primary
school. This launch aimed at mobilizing the entire Bukonzo west and the entire
district of Kasese. It was attended by district leaders, Bukonzo west constituency
leaders, VHTs and the community of Mpondwe Lhubiriha T/C.
3. Distribution of the hand washing, Drinking
containers and aqua safe.
4. Training of Health workers on Hand washing,
water treatment and the approaches to CLTS. This was facilitated by the District
Health Inspector and Health Educator Kasese.
The training of
Health workers:
1.
Training health workers on water treatment.
Opening Remarks with a pre-test managed by
Facilitators
2.
Presentation from DHI on the different types of
water treatment, safe water chain and the effects of Cholera and typhoid to the
communities.
3.
Presentation on Sanitation related disease &
how they can be prevented with emphasis on hand washing at critical times
4.
Practical Illustration of water purification
using Pure.
5.
Closure remarks by District Health
Inspector-Kasese
The meeting started with introductions and participants
expectation of the meeting as well as pre-test which was a good start. Participants
were the district health officials including, health workers from Health
Centers II, III, IV and Hospitals from Bukonzo East, Busongora North and South
then Kasese Municipality. Results
obtained were as follows;
S/no
|
Range
|
No. of participants
|
1
|
100
|
2
|
2
|
90-99
|
04
|
3
|
80-90
|
24
|
4
|
70-80
|
27
|
5
|
60-70
|
10
|
6
|
50-60
|
4
|
The table above shows
that none of the 71 participants was below 50%.
The above results
shows a picture of an average understanding of sanitation and hygiene issues by
majority of the health workers, “ safe water chain and hand washing practices
However, the results indicated that there was still more
needed to learn on water treatment methodologies and public sanitation &
Hygiene facility management.
ATTENDANCE;
Practical
Illustration on water treatment.
He talked about community led total sanitation, CLTS which
involves all stakeholders to be conscious and take action on WASH.
An experiment of water purification was done which triggered
their minds and emphasis on promoting WASH at their health centers which was
evidenced by their confessions
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE
TRAINING
·
The health workers were able to understand much
more the concept of WASH and use of Hand washing and safe drinking water chain
·
The training triggered participants on taking
immediate action, sensitisation on treating drinking water to make it safe and
adoption of hand washing as evidenced in their expressions and confessions
during the water purification illustrations.
·
Willingness of Health workers to go sensitize
and adapt to the best practice of hand washing and drinking water treatment at
their health Facilities.
·
The participants promised to share the
information received, conduct sensitization sessions at their health units as
well as passing the information to the VHTs for more health talks to the
patients.
·
All participants agreed to be champions of water
treatment at their health facilities.
The distributions Made
S/n
|
Name
of Health Unit served
|
Sub
county
|
Grade
|
1
|
Kasanga PHC
|
MLTC
|
IV
|
2
|
Kamasasa
|
Karambi
|
II
|
3
|
Karambi H/C
|
Karambi
|
III
|
4
|
Kisolholho
|
Karambi
|
II
|
5
|
Bikunya
|
Karambi
|
II
|
6
|
Mushenene
|
Nyakiyumbu
|
III
|
7
|
Ihandiro
|
Ihandiro
|
III
|
8
|
Bubotyo
|
Ihandiro
|
II
|
9
|
Kikyo
|
Ihandiro
|
II
|
10
|
Buhunga Muyagha
|
Ihandiro
|
II
|
11
|
Kitholhu
|
Kitholhu
|
III
|
12
|
Kanyatsi
|
Kitholhu
|
II
|
13
|
Kiraro
|
Kitholhu
|
II
|
14
|
Kyampara
|
Isango
|
II
|
15
|
Kamukumbi
|
Isango
|
II
|
16
|
Katholhu
|
Nyakiyumbu
|
II
|
17
|
Kayanzi
|
Nyakiyumbu
|
II
|
18
|
Kinyamaseke
|
Munkunyu
|
III
|
19
|
Buhaghura
|
Rukoki
|
II
|
20
|
Kiburara
|
Kisinga
|
II
|
21
|
Nyabirongo
|
Kisinga
|
III
|
22
|
Kabirizi Upper
|
Kyarumba
|
II
|
23
|
Kyarumba
|
Kyarumba
|
III
|
24
|
Kyarumba PHC
|
Kyarumbu
|
III
|
25
|
Kabirizi Lower
|
L.Katwe
|
II
|
26
|
Kahokya
|
L.Katwe
|
II
|
27
|
Kitabu ST. Francis Martinet
|
Kyarumbu
|
III
|
28
|
Hamukunku
|
L.Katwe
|
II
|
29
|
Katwe
|
Katwe Kabatooro T/C
|
III
|
30
|
Mweya
|
L.Katwe
|
II
|
31
|
Katunguru
|
L.Katwe
|
II
|
32
|
Kasenyi
|
L.Katwe
|
II
|
33
|
Kasese Municipal
|
Nyamwamba Div.
|
III
|
34
|
Rukoki
|
Nyamwamba Div.
|
III
|
35
|
Bughalitsa
|
Rukoki
|
II
|
36
|
Kilembe Mines Hospital
|
Bulembya Div.
|
Hosp.
|
37
|
Kilembe H/C
|
Bulembya Div.
|
II
|
38
|
Kirembe
|
Central Div.
|
II
|
39
|
Nyakabingo
|
Rukoki
|
II
|
40
|
Mubuki Irrigation
|
Rukoki
|
II
|
41
|
Katooke
|
Bughoye
|
II
|
42
|
Nyangorongo
|
Bughoye
|
II
|
43
|
Bughoye
|
Bughoye
|
II
|
44
|
Maghoma
|
Bughoye
|
II
|
45
|
Maliba H/C
|
Maliba
|
III
|
46
|
Isule H/C
|
Maliba
|
III
|
47
|
Mukathi
|
Maliba
|
III
|
48
|
Muhokya
|
Muhokya
|
III
|
49
|
Kahendero H/C
|
Muhokya
|
II
|
50
|
Kasese Police station
|
Central Div
|
II
|
51
|
Katadoba UMSC H/C
|
Central Div
|
III
|
52
|
Railway H/C
|
Central Div.
|
II
|
53
|
Bishop Masereka H/C
|
Central
|
III
|
54
|
St.Paul
|
Central
|
IV
|
55
|
Saruti H/C
|
Nyamwamba Div.
|
II
|
56
|
Kisamba H/C
|
Bughoye
|
II
|
57
|
RMS H/C
|
Bughoye
|
III
|
58
|
Ibanda H/C
|
Bughoye
|
II
|
59
|
Bikone
|
Maliba
|
II
|
60
|
Kyanya SDA
|
Maliba
|
III
|
61
|
Mubuku Prison
|
Maliba
|
II
|
62
|
Muhindi H/C
|
Nyakiyumbu
|
II
|
63
|
Nyabugando H/C
|
Mpondwe L T/C
|
III
|
64
|
Kihyo H/C
|
Maliba
|
II
|
65
|
Mubuku Kisojo
|
Maliba
|
II
|
66
|
Ibuga Prison
|
Kitswamba
|
II
|
67
|
Buhuhira
|
Kyabarungira
|
II
|
68
|
Bwesumbu
|
Kyabarungira
|
II
|
69
|
Kasangali
|
Kyabarungira
|
II
|
70
|
Nkoko
|
Kitswamba
|
II
|
71
|
Ibuga Refugees
|
Kitswamba
|
II
|
72
|
Kabiri
|
Muhokya
|
II
|
73
|
Butale
|
Mahango
|
II
|
74
|
Mbunga
|
Kilembe
|
II
|
75
|
Kyondo
|
Kyondo
|
III
|
76
|
Hima dispensary
|
Kitswamba T/C
|
III
|
77
|
Kavera army barracks
|
Hima T/C
|
III
|
78
|
Kabatunda
|
Kyabarungira
|
III
|
79
|
Kitswamba
|
Kitswamba
|
III
|
80
|
Nyamirami
|
Muhokya
|
III
|
81
|
Kalibo
|
Kilembe
|
III
|
82
|
Karusandara
|
Karusandara
|
III
|
83
|
Mahango
|
Mahango
|
III
|
84
|
Kanamba
|
Karusandara
|
III
|
85
|
Kinyabwamba
|
Kitswamba
|
III
|
86
|
Rwesande
|
Kyabarungira
|
IV
|
87
|
Kilembe Mines Hospital
|
Bulembya Div.
|
Hospital
|
88
|
Kagando
|
Kisinga
|
Hospital
|
89
|
Bwera Hospital
|
Mpondwe L T/C
|
Hospital
|
OTHER HEALTH UNITS GIVEN
|
|||
90
|
Railway
|
Kasese Municipality
|
II
|
91
|
Kahendero
|
Muhokya
|
II
|
92
|
Kasungu
|
Bwera
|
II
|
93
|
Nyakimasa
|
Bwera
|
II
|
94
|
Bukangara H/C
|
Nyakiyumbu
|
II
|
95
|
Bwito
|
Kyondo
|
II
|
96
|
Nyakatonzi
|
Nyakatonzi
|
II
|
KEY PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS.
·
This project has increased joint efforts in
fighting sanitation and Hygiene diseases in the district. This was through
engaging district leader both political and technical including Sub County and
all HUMC in Kasese.
·
Patients, care takers and health workers from
96 health units are accessing hand washing facilities aqua safe water treatment
tablets in Kasese district.
·
Patients,
care takers and health workers accessing safe and clean water for drinking in
the 96 health units of Kasese district.
·
Health
workers of 96 health Centers wash their hands and instruments before and after
patient contact
·
Health workers and VHTS from 96 health units
report that they teach hand washing and water treatment to their patients
before daily business at health centers.
·
At
least a number of patients and care
takers practice hand washing with soap at critical times and observe safe water
chain in their homes.
