Page 13 - WATER SECTOR MAGAZINE VOLUME 3

SANITATION AND HYGIENE FOR

TRACHOMA FREE COMMUNITIES

By MWAKAMWERETI KANJO
WATERAID MALAWI

Lack of access to safe water, sanitation
and hygiene most often brings with it fear
of contracting life threatening diseases
like cholera, however, little attention
is paid to other equally traumatizing
diseases like blinding trachoma that also
thrive in situations of poor access to
safe and adequate water, sanitation and
poor hygiene practices. Perhaps, this is
because the effects of trachoma are not as
devastating compared to diseases such as
cholera.

According to the World Health
Organization, trachoma is among the
top 18 Neglected Tropical Diseases that
require special attention by national
states and governments. Currently,
more than 8 million Malawians live in
trachoma endemic environments across
15 districts in Malawi and are therefore
at risk of contracting the disease. The risk
is especially high for those who also lack A woman washes her face as a precaution against Trachoma attack
access to safe and adequate water, good
sanitation and who do not practice good Gloria Chirwa, a mother of three, is one “The water is important because it is used
hygiene.
of the natural leaders from Katenje village for menstrual hygiene management by the
that the project identified to champion adolescent girls but also so that if learners
Currently, less than half of Malawians
have access to good sanitation and even F&E initiatives in the village because don’t wash their faces at home, they can do
it at school,” said Chirwa.
of the interest and enthusiasm that she
less practice good hygiene. The risk of showed when the interventions were first
contracting trachoma is therefore high.
introduced to the community. As a result of these initiatives, Malawi is
on track to be the first country to achieve
The International Coalition for Trachoma
Control (ICTC) is a grouping of As a natural leader, she is responsible full elimination of blinding trachoma
despite being one of the poorest.
for ensuring that each household has
organizations that are implementing the basic needs such as improved toilet that However, to ensure that these gains are
WHO recommended SAFE (Surgical, has a drop-hole cover and handwashing sustained, all stakeholders in Trachoma
Antibiotic, Facial Cleanliness and
Environmental Improvements) strategy to facilities, a kitchen and a rubbish pit endemic districts should use the adapted
eliminate blinding trachoma in Malawi by among other things. According to Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS)
Chirwa, the interventions have come with
guidelines which provide for trachoma
2019.
more benefits other than just preventing messaging. Malawi also needs to make
trachoma. some critical decisions, including the
WaterAid Malawi and six other partners
are implementing the F&E component following:
of the SAFE strategy in 15 districts with She said: “While trying to prevent • Prioritize sanitation and
trachoma we have noticed reduced cases
hygiene in its health planning
funding from the Queen Elizabeth in diarrhea. Our families are healthier and • Put emphasis on hand and face
Diamond Jubilee Trust. In this project happier. All the households in the village washing as it revises the National Open
the interventions are concentrated in
model schools and villages that were now have improved toilets that are well Defecation Free (ODF) and Handwashing
selected following a set criteria that covered.” With Soap strategies, through among
others, indicating threshold percentage
among others considered intra district Chirwa, who is also a member of Chisuwe for handwashing facilities in the ODF
trachoma prevalent rates to determine the Primary School Mother Group, said she verification criteria as a proxy indicator
geographical zones. The main emphasis is
on facial cleanliness, general body hygiene is fighting for improved sanitation from for hygiene if an area is to be declared
and sanitation. many fronts. At Chiusiwa Primary School ODF
WaterAid is also facilitating similar • Government of Malawi to
hygiene behavior change interventions. promote use of adapted CLTS guidelines
The organisation is implementing the F&E As a mother group member, Chirwa is (by all WASH players) which provide for
component of the strategy in two districts
of Kasungu and Nkhotakota. Katenje responsible for ensuring that the school face washing and messaging on how to
Village situated in Traditional Authority has enough toilets for learners, water eliminate Blinding Trachoma by 2019
30 Cubic Meter Ferro Cement Tank for Rainwater Harvesting Chulu in Kasungu district is one of the is available at the school, and issues of Let us join hands to give our children a
healthy start.
sanitation and hygiene are adhered to.
model villages identified by this project.
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