Hygiene is an important determinant of public health that influences the transmission and onset of wide range of diseases. The Government of Nepal’s commitment to meet the MDG goals and targets in health and sanitation, coupled with the country’s poor health, hygiene and sanitation situation indicate urgency to focus on cost effective preventive health care approaches and interventions. Hence, we implemented National Hand washing programme with support from UNICEF and Ministry of Health and Population.

Of various components of National Hand Washing Program “School Based Hand Washing Programme” was one, which was implemented in seven different districts namely Jhapa, Sunsari, Saptari, Mahottari , Dhanusha, Chitwan, Banke from December to April 2013 by SDPC in collaboration with its local partners, and with the financial support of UNICEF. The goal of the program was to improve child survival rates in Nepal by reducing deaths caused due to diarrhea among children less than 5 years of age. For sustainability of the program, seven local NGOs were recruited one in each district for the implementation of the program activities.

A total of 4,249 schools sessions were completed where 203,933 students, 8,160 teachers and 951 School Management Committee members participated. This program covered all schools in assigned districts including community schools and private schools. In addition peer led outreach were conducted to deliver hand washing with soap message among their friends and in their neighborhood. Similarly, in total 471 VDC level orientation were conducted in strategic locations of the program areas with a view to orient the VDC representatives, health workers, teachers, political leaders and influential people in the community.