Nam Giang WASH

Nam Giang is a remote mountainous region in Quang Nam near the Laotian border. It is a very poor area with a large number of minority tribes. In early 2015, VNHIP visited all the schools in Ca Dy commune to undertake a basic health needs assessment. We discovered several health and hygiene issues present at each school. The children were experiencing high rates of malaria, diarrhea, and respiratory infections, which affected school attendance. The children were not aware of the importance of personal hygiene, and there was poor access to hand-washing facilities, clean water, and toilets in the schools. Given that the health impacts of poor hygiene are particularly significant for children, it was evident that personal hygiene education, combined with access to clean water and sanitation facilities, was a priority for the Ca Dy school community.

VNHIP is currently working with the Nam Giang District People’s Committee and the relevant authorities to provide water supply systems and toilets. We also implemented a health education program for all children in the schools of 4 communes in Nam Giang District. The program has been very well received by the teachers and students.

Our Goal

The goal of this project is to improve the health of students at the schools by upgrading clean water storage facilities, providing hand-washing stations and hygienic toilets, and encouraging healthy behaviors, particularly hand-washing and toilet use.

Our Approach

To improve water and sanitation systems and hygiene practices.

Our Focus Areas

Criminal Defense

VNHIP provides water supply systems for schools, including a well, a water pump, a water tank, and happy-taps. With those systems, students and teachers can have sufficient clean water for daily activities, such as handwashing, food preparation, cooking, and toilet flushing. The provision of cleaner water will reduce the problems of diarrhea, intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, and malnutrition.

Sanitation

VNHIP supports the building of sufficient toilets for the school that provide privacy for all students. Functional toilets will reduce open defecation around the school grounds and spillage into the river, a water source for the community.

Hygiene

The purpose of this project is to contribute to improving overall community health and, more specifically, the health of students in Nam Giang.

VNHIP improves students’ hygienic practices in schools by providing education. Improved knowledge of health and hygiene will lead to healthier lifestyles.