Academics
KHI EMBARKS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION IN RURAL AREAS
Through its Community Based Environmental Health Promotion Programme (CBEHPP) ; Kigali Health Institute in partnership with Water Aid Rwanda has embarked on creating awareness among the rural dwellers on the role of sustaining hygiene and sanitation in their lives. The program aims at reaching communities so as to equip them with skills and knowledge to help them identify their personal and domestic hygiene as well as environmental health related problems; mainly diseases rooted from drinking dirty water and poor sanitation.
The program is being conducted in Bugesera, Ngoma, Nyabihu, Muhanga and Rulindo. It is implemented through community hygiene clubs (CHCs) approach. The approach taken consists of grouping 100-150 men and women dedicated to improving the welfare of the community through common understanding of benefits of good environmental health practices.
As explained by KORUKIRE Noël , a Lecturer from the department of enviromental health sciences at the institute, the need of community hygiene clubs is of paramount significance in eradicating diseases caused by poor hygiene and lack of proper sanitation. He clarified that much emphasis is put on teaching the population effective hand washing techniques, embracing hygiene of their bodies, food and habitations, drinking safe water and having proper latrines among many others.
The introduction of this community outreach program is part of the initiatives introduced by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Kigali Health Institute aimed at contributing to the wellbeing of the community.
