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Sanitation and Hygiene

04/01/2012

  • Young children's immune systems are less developed, so it is most important that children have access to basic sanitation and hygiene.
     
  • Using a toilet or latrine is the best way to dispose of faeces.
     
  • Take special care to ensure that germs from faecesare not allowed to contaminate drinking water, as this will cause young children to get diarrhoea.
     
  • All family members must uses toilets or latrines.
     
  • Where toilets are unavailable, faecesshould be buried.
     
  • Safe disposal of all household refuse helps to keep the living environment clean and healthy.
     
  • Hand-washing with soap after using the toilet and before eating is the most cost-effective health intervention.
     
  • All family members must wash hands with soap.
     
  • Where soap is not available, a substitute, such as ash and water, can be used.
     
  • Hand-washing with soap is extremely important in emergency situations.
     
  • Older girls and women must have clean, private space available to them, so they can practice good hygiene practices during menstruation. 
     
  • Sanitary napkins should be carefully disposed with other refuse or burned.
     
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