RB and ADRA India collaborate to implement hygiene education programme in primary schools of Uttar Pradesh

The project aims to implement it in 3,070 primary schools of Uttar Pradesh to contribute in building behaviour change among students

Dettol Banega Swachh India, a flagship programme by RB and ADRA India today inaugurated their first toilet and hand wash unit in “Saraswati Shishu Mandir” school, Lucknow under its hygiene education programme for primary schools. The programme witnessed the presence of Anupama Jaiswal, Minister of State, Independent Charge (Basic Education) who inspired the kids to drive behaviour change and become the change agent for society.

Children’s ability to learn is affected by inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in several ways. Through this partnership, the project aims to implement a hygiene education programme in 3,070 primary schools of Uttar Pradesh to contribute in building behaviour change among students. The proposed locations are districts of Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Noida, Etawah, Kannauj, Varanasi and Bhagalpur of Bihar State.

Ravi Bhatnagar, Director External Affairs and Partnerships, RB Health AMESA, said, “Health is a catalyst that brings social change and is considered one of the most critical areas of empowerment for children. Schools provide an excellent opportunity for children and their parents to broaden their horizon and learn healthy ways to adopt hygienic practices. We are proud of our collaboration with ADRA India that will help drive a meaningful health and sanitation dialogue through our hygiene education programme in thousands of primary schools across Uttar Pradesh.”

Three primary objectives of the project are:

• Fostering an enabling environment in schools by empowering teachers as agents of change for imparting WASH knowledge to students
• Households and schools transformed by students’ improved hygiene and sanitation knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and practices
• Communities’ commitment to improved WASH behaviours and practices with their local schools through high visibility on social media

The project will facilitate the school with training, wash and education material, wall paintings etc. The presence of toilet in schools will help in fostering good hygiene practices among students while making them aware about the use of sanitation facilities.