Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Nepal is water resource rich country however inadequate water supply and lack of clean and safe water still remains as perennial problems both in urban and rural areas causing serious health problems. The capacity of people to adapt and respond to life's challenges and changes lies in their healthy lives. The philosophy of Fri PAD supports the transformation of 'sick societies' into 'healthy societies' not only in the physical sense but also in the social, psychological, political, and economic sense. Pure drinking water, health and sanitation problems in Nepal are varied, enormous, and spiralling, particularly among the rural as well as urban poor and this has greatly impeded their self development. Fri PAD, therefore, tries to integrate a community water supply, health and sanitation component into its development programme. It places emphasis on preventive measures. During this year, the program has benefited altogether 8460 households in Dang, Gulmi, Tanahun, Nawalparasi and Chitwan districts. Asian Development Bank (ADB), Water Supply and Sewerage Department, Second Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (SSTWSSSP), District Development Committee (DDC), Water Supply and Sanitation Division Office (WSSDO) and Village Development Committee (VDC) are the working partners and funding agencies for the project. Currently, FriPAD has been implementing small town water supply and sanitation project in Damauli, Megauli and Mukundapur small towns.\ under the financial assistantship of SSTWSSSP/GON/ADB. Our water, health and sanitation related activities include: pure drinking water, personal health/hygiene education, awareness raising activities, open defecating free zone development, capacity building of women health workers, mobile health clinics, community drug rehabilitation, and immunisation programmes, among others.
Personal hygiene
Good personal hygiene is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves and others from many illnesses. One of the most effective ways we have to protect ourselves and others from illness is good personal hygiene. This means washing hands, especially, but also the whole body. It means being careful not to cough or sneeze on others, cleaning things that we touch if we are unwell, putting items such as tissues (that may have germs) into a bin, and using protection (like gloves or condoms) when we might be at risk of catching an infection.
Personal hygiene, such as bathing, is very much dependent on the culture in which you live. In some cultures, it is expected that we should wash our body at least every day and use deodorants to stop body smells. Other cultures have different expectations. In this regards, FriPAD is actively working for the following activities in the project districts;
- Hand washing
- Personal hygiene for women
- Personal hygiene for men and
- Travelling hygiene