Educating the community about hygiene

It is really important that mums and dads learn about hygiene so that their children will learn good hygiene habits from them.  Mothers in particular need to be careful about hygiene so that they can bring their babies up safely.

However, in some communities it’s children who educate the adults.  They get life skill training and education about hygiene and sanitation which they teach their parents.

It’s really important that everyone learns about hygiene in the community so people take care to help prevent the spread of disease.  This can be done by:

• Not dropping litter outside
• Not polluting rivers, streams and other waterways
• Using latrines instead of the outdoors where possible.
  

It is also important that governments and local communities have a good sanitation system (rubbish collection, sewerage, toilets etc.) and that local people know how to use them.

Following conflict in Georgia in 2008, UNICEF is helping to rebuild communities and is using the opportunity to improve hygiene, sanitation and access to water. Tortiza Village School took some time to rebuild. It was used as a shelter for families during the conflict and one of the main school buildings was ruined by fire. Following the rebuilding many of the students feel their school is better than before; Natia Sirbiladze, 9, is one of them.

"I'm very happy now that we have a water tap," she said. "Before, we had to go to my classmate's house to bring water. I'm also very happy that we now have the toilet."

The children are also receiving training in good hygiene practices. For many students, school is their only opportunity to obtain proper hygiene education. A child taught the link between good hygiene and good health can then become a health educator for his or her own family.

"Our awareness about various infectious diseases has increased. We also learnt what causes diarrhoea. Before, we didn't have a proper toilet or water to wash our hands or to drink. Often we had to miss classes to go to nearby houses for water," said student Tamar Akhalkatsi, 14.

UNICEF's work in Georgia will improve hygiene practices for new generations as they attend school, and will have effects within the families of pupils and the wider community as the students share this information.