Hygiene Promotion
The theme of hygiene promotion is dealt with by a variety of initiatives and organizations in the sector. While WSSCC used to have its own working group on hygiene promotion, it currently has links with a number of these organizations and initiatives who all deal with different aspects of hygiene promotion, and together provide the range of information and services that used to be provided by the thematic group.
International Scientific Forum for Home Hygiene (IFH)
Since 2005, WSSCC has developed a partnership with the International Scientific Forum of Home Hygiene, which acts as WSSCC's focal point on home hygiene promotion. IFH works to raise awareness about the importance of hygiene at home, and develops programmes aimed at improving practices both at home and on a community level. IFH is a non-profit, non-government organization comprising scientists and healthcare professionals who play an active role in hygiene policy and scientific research. Through its international initiatives, the IFH raises awareness of the fundamental role that home hygiene plays in preventing infectious disease, and searches for ways to develop and promote hygiene and hygiene practice based on sound scientific principles.
A 2006 Training Resource produced by the IFH/WSSCC can be found here. It outlines the importance of hygiene as an ally in reducing infectious disease and looks at the means by which good hygiene practices can be promoted and encouraged.
In November 2007 IFH published a paper on the crucial role of handwashing with soap in the home as a tool to ward off infections. The paper was published in the American Journal of Infection Control, and was accompanied by a press release given out by the London School on Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
For more information about the IFH activities please visit www.ifh-homehygiene.org.
Public Private Partnership for Hand Washing (PPPHW)
The Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing is a global initiative to promote handwashing with soap and reduce diarrhoea, a major cause of child mortality in many countries today. Handwashing plays an important part in the efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals related both to:
- health improvements and
- access and effective use of water supply and sanitation services.
The PPPHW's Newsletter, Soap Box, provides useful information and more insight into Hygiene Promotion activities worldwide.
More information about this group can be found on the website at www.globalhandwashing.org.
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