Looking back during COVID-19 especially when cases were high, thy where steped up utilization of handwashing facilities in schools and public places like markets. But now there is reduced utilization of handwashing facilities in schools due to low cases of COVID-19. It's therefore important to step up sensitization program on the benefits of handwashing and these calls for scaling up handwashing in schools. The man drive is midset change which includes developing habits of washing hand and use of locally available resources in making of hand washing facilities in rural area and urban areas.

i have seen low numbers of Hand Washing facilities compared to the previous time when Covid 19 cases were high and also there is  evidence low utilization  of these  facilities in schools as the Covid 19 threat is less,missing the main objective of hand washing . I feel there is need for hygiene education package which highlights the key benefits of correct hand washing without necessarily putting Covid 19 prevention at a focus .Maintenance is also an issue often schools budgets do not allocate enough,hence innovation in sustainable hand washing facilities should be encouraged.Positive mindset change of trainers and learners is critical to develop good habits of handwashing in schools with adequate functional hand washing facilities. This is a case in schools in my community.

Dear All,

One thing is certain looking back over the past 2 years. Covid-19 got all of us washing our hands a little bit more.  As children returned to schools messaging around handwashing and the provision of handwashing facilities was stepped up.  I wonder whether we are able to maintain this momentum now that Covid-19 becomes less and less of a threat.

Regards,
Chaiwe

Dear Hassan,

Thank you for sharing the outcomes of this study, and of course, the findings demonstrate many commonalities with the situation in most African countries. WASH should continue to be integrated in the school curriculum as the study suggested. Quite some progress has been seen in Zambia, Kenya, and other countries with the support of different WASH in School projects.

The practice of handwashing among school-going children does indeed depend on the knowledge acquired. Schools across the developing world are beginning to integrate lessons on handwashing as a practice within their curriculum, which has contributed to the awareness creation among school-going children.

The school environment plays a major role in promoting health outcomes in society. Good hygiene is an important aspect of disease prevention if adhered to correctly and as seen in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

In line with the SDG goal number 6 (that includes a focus on ensuring that children have access to safe water beyond their households, to include their places of play and school), countries and education providers should ensure that infrastructure in schools is equipped with basic drinking water, adequate sanitation, and basic handwashing facilities. In this regard, would you know what policy frameworks exist within the education system within Somalia to support WASH in schools?  

Regards,
Chaiwe

(I am posting in this thread to bring Mohamed's post to the top of the list; due to an IT glitch, it has as a date 25 Feb 201 but it is actually from today)

Dear all 
I am posting this Factors Influencing Handwashing Practice Among Primary School Children Attending at Altadamun School, Mogadishu-Somalia  because I have an interest to the practice of handwashing at primary school children.  I would like to know your opinions on this topic and my work is voluntary.

www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/journal/p...8/j.jher.20210701.14     

Regards,
Mohamed Hassan Mohamed
Department of Food Hygiene & Safety, Faculty of Public & Environmental Health, Somali International University (SIU), Mogadishu, Somalia

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Factors Influencing Handwashing Practice Among Primary School Children Attending at Altadamun School, Mogadishu-Somalia
Journal of Health and Environmental Research

Abstract
Background: this study investigated factors influencing hand washing practice with special focus to educational factors, socioeconomic factors and cultural factors influencing hand washing practice among primary school children attending at Altadamun School, Mogadishu-Somalia. Factors the main objective of this study is factors influencing hand washing practice remain a major problem in developing hygiene related diseases among primary school children. Methods: the study employed descriptive approach and sought to cover the descriptive elements of the research process. Data collected using questionnaire, and SPSS statistical software version 16 was used to analyze the dataset whereby total of 184 respondents selected from primary School children attending at Altadamun School were participated in this study. Results: this study presents critical analysis of the involvement of factors influencing hand washing practice among primary School children Mogadishu-Somalia. The findings of the study revealed that awareness of the respondents about hand washing practice was very low due to lack of education about the importance of hand washing and cultural influences. The findings from objective one of this study implies other findings that revealed lack of education of pupils about hand washing practice increases their risk of becoming exposed to hygiene diseases. According to the second objective of this study, findings from the result in Tables 12, 13 and 9 showed that all the respondents never washed their hands while at School. This finding still agrees with Piney, Jamison and others (2000). In view of the fact, based on the finding from the result of the analysis in Tables 16, 17 and 18 respectively indicated that all the respondents were not often washed their hands with soap before eating food. This finding agrees with the Rosen, UNICEF and others in the 2007 findings from the study carried out Grange school in Nigeria. Conclusion: this study recommends that there is a need for water, sanitation and hygiene lessons in school curriculum to be taught at schools, sitting up hand washing facilities in all public and private schools as well as cultural change through community awareness.