Hygiene and Food Security Project

Our objectives are:
(i) To reduce cases of communicable diseases, including Covid-19;
(ii) To ensure nutritional support during lockdown for all families.

Planning

To limit episodes of communicable diseases attributable to a lack of hygiene, such as gastroenteritis, pneumonia, and Covid-19, we decided to use multiple strategies based on scientific evidence, which could mutually allow us to achieve greater results: (i) monthly health education on infectious diseases, how they are transmitted and how to avoid them, including a component on proper food preparation and storage, (ii) distribution and use of hygiene stations, soap, and cloth masks, and (iii) nutritional support during lockdown through two monthly food ration distributions. In addition, through the 'seed bank' project, the monthly distribution of soap continues from 2020 to present.

Expected Results

Our objectives in 2025-26 are to continue supporting the Project, making our prevention activities self-sustainable by developing a soap self-production activity, to ensure enough quantities of soap are available in each settlement, and eventually to generate extra incomes. We will also continue to provide educational sessions on various aspects of health and prevention of infectious diseases.

Results Achieved

Through the distribution of Hygiene stations for hadwashing, Bars of Soap, Food Rations, Cloth masks, Monthly educational sessions on hygiene and health, together with the 'Seed Bank' project, we have achieved the following results: (i) All families have a hand washing station and a monthly dose of soap. (ii) All families benefited from food support during the lockdown. (iii) Access to markets was not denied thanks to the use of masks (an essential requirement to be able to go to public places). (iv) Communicable diseases such as gastroenteritis have decreased thanks also to an increase in hand washing.