Improving hygiene habits in communities
Sumaya Akter
In Bangladesh, through hygiene training and awareness sessions, we’re helping communities understand the importance of handwashing with soap, to enable them to lead healthier lives.
As a result of attending the sessions, 9-year old Sumaya Akter now maintains good hygiene practices. She says, “I read in class four in Dhaka. Earlier I was not aware about the benefits of hand washing and was affected by different waterborne diseases and couldn’t attend school. After receiving hygiene education from WSUP , I wash my hands with soap after toilet and before taking food. Now, I am healthy and go to school regularly.’’
Sumaya lives with her parents in the Duaripara low-income community in Dhaka. Her father is a day labourer and her mother works in other people’s homes to earn a living.
“Earlier we didn’t have a toilet and were not aware about the benefits of improved hygiene practices which resulted in us falling sick frequently,” says her mother. “WSUP supported us to install a hygienic toilet and provided hygiene education which we are practicing. Now, we are leading healthy lives and my kids go to school regularly. I am also regular in my work which I couldn’t do before due to sickness.’’