Every day, 4000 children die from illnesses like diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera caused by dirty water and unhygienic living conditions.1 Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is a basic human right that is not a given for us all, and not automatically linked to improved health outcomes. Nonetheless, the importance of good sanitation and hygiene practices cannot be underestimated.
Based in Durban, South Africa, Oxfam's partner OneVoice South Africa (OVSA) works with young people on critical health issues including access to water, sanitation and hygiene.
Launched in 2009, the OVSA schools programme provides more than 6500 young people with in-depth, school-based workshops that discuss issues such as HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and good hygiene practices. Earlier this year, OVSA's life skills project was revised to include sanitation and hygiene principles throughout the curriculum. With Oxfam's help, hygiene and health education is now provided to all Grade 8 students.
These young people can influence their parents and peers and take the lead on promoting basic personal hygiene and handwashing to help prevent the spread of illness and disease.
Water, sanitation and hygiene projects have also been launched in Dloko and Isifisusethu high schools in KwaZulu-Natal province. Using a mapping survey, students and OVSA staff identified the most pressing issues and infrastructure needed to support better hygiene and sanitation practices such as wash basins, sanitary bin disposal units and water-saving push taps, which have since been installed in the schools.
One of the issues raised through the survey was the lack of affordable sanitary products. Without these products many young girls miss school (sometimes for up to five days each month) while they are menstruating. This amounts to approximately 60 missed days of school each year, and some girls drop out of school completely. To address this issue, OVSA provided Grade 8 girls in these schools with 'Dignity Dreams Packs'. 'Dignity Dreams' reusable sanitary pads are a sustainable resource, allowing girls to wash and reuse them rather than having to buy disposable sanitary pads every month. They are also inexpensive and environmentally friendly.
OVSA plans to introduce its programme to other schools in KwaZulu-Natal and give more young students the opportunity to safeguard a healthy future.