하트하트재단

Hygiene awareness education for caregivers prior to the outreach clinic

Heart-to-Heart Foundation Malawi Branch is actively implementing Water, Sanitation,

and Hygiene (WASH) projects in T/A M‘biza, Zomba District, Malawi, aiming to improve community-led WASH environments

and promote sustainable hygiene practices.

To establish sustainable hygiene behaviors, it is essential not only to raise awareness among community members in general,

but also to provide hygiene education to caregivers who directly look after children‘s health.

Caregivers gathered at an outreach clinic site, listening attentively to health education

Community members living far from healthcare facilities face difficulties in accessing health services.

To overcome this challenge, local health centers operate a monthly ‘Outreach Clinic‘ that directly visits the villages.

Heart-to-Heart Foundation actively utilized these mobile clinic activities to enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of hygiene education.

This year, we conducted capacity-building training for healthcare workers across three health facilities in the project area,

establishing a system that enables them to directly deliver health education to caregivers prior to consultations during regular and outreach clinic sessions.

5 Critical Times for Handwashing

On August 19, a total of 153 caregivers attended the outreach clinic held in the Makina.

Prior to consultations and child medical checkups, trained healthcare workers led a hygiene education session focused on the core topic of ‘Handwashing‘.

In particular, the session covered the ‘5 Critical Times for Handwashing‘,

which are crucial for preventing infectious diseases in children under 5 years old, proper handwashing techniques, and the importance of breastfeeding.

poster chart used during the session

The session was conducted in a participatory manner using visual poster charts so that even community members

who cannot read could intuitively understand the concepts.

Practicing proper handwashing using a bucket with a tap

Healthcare workers ensured caregivers were fully engaged by explaining the illustrations,

and helped their understanding by having them practice washing their hands under running water using a bucket with a tap.

Caregivers who care for children under the age of 5 gained a deep realization of how vital hygiene management is

in preventing waterborne diseases and protecting young lives,

especially when preparing clean food and feeding children.

Through today‘s health talk session,

I learned how to wash my hands properly under running water and clearly understood the importance of handwashing.

When I return home, I plan to explain these hygiene rules to my husband and family so we can practice them together.

Even if it‘s not for children‘s vaccinations, I really hope others will attend this health education session as well.

- Grace Makina, Caregiver participating in the outreach clinic

Heart-to-Heart Foundation will continue to improve residents‘ hygiene awareness and safely protect children from waterborne diseases through sustainable

and effective education linked to existing healthcare systems within the community.

We ask for your continued interest and warm support as we move forward together so that children and community members can grow up healthy!