Village Health and Nutrition DayConvergent Approach for improving basic services for children

21st March 2011, Kolkata

Why WASH in VHND• VHND provides a convergent platform (under NRHM)

where mother and children joins every month for seeking basic services and are available at one place

• The opportunity can be used for information sharing and educating key stakeholders on WASH issues such as– Safe Drinking Water– Personal Hygiene – Home Hygiene and Sanitation – Menstrual Hygiene Management

• The platform can also be used for follow up and monitoring behaviour change on WASH

Child Environment• The institution (Sub centre/ AWC) where VHND is

proposed should have clean environment and basic WASH systems such as– Safe drinking water– Functional toilet– Hand washing Facilities – Garbage disposal pit

• The centre should also display promotional messages on key hygiene behaviours

Four Key behaviors

1. Use of safe drinking water

2. Stop open defecation and use toilet

3. Wash hands with soap before eating and after toilet use

4. Dispose child excreta safely in toilet

Actions• Participate/obtain VHND plan for the block• Collect the details of WASH facilities status in the VHND centers from frontline workers and update

• Prioritize the provisioning of toilets and water systems in consultation with respective PRIs

• Display IEC material, slogans for WASH promotion • Advise GP facilitator to collect the water sample of the VHND centre and get the water tested and inform the quality of water

• Advocate for providing water filter if quality is not potable

• Promote sanitary napkin use among mothers • Plan one VHND in a year with special focus on WASH• Ensure all frontline workers have toilets at home and use it

WASH facilities in Anganwari Centre

IEC material for display