Hygiene Promotion - IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre

Appendix 5. More arguments for hygiene and sanitation promotionSandy Cairncross and Valerie Curtis, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineWhy promote hygiene and sanitation?HygieneSee (especially Table 1):http://www.wsscc.org/dataweb/internal/Media%20and%20communications/publications/Sani_Hygiene_Promo_final.pdfSanitationSee http://www.sanicon.net/themes/intro.php3?theme=1Sanitation has to be marketed like any consumer good. Most people know and want toilets.However, toilet acquisition may not be a priority item of expenditure, especially for thepoor. People want sanitation for reasons that include convenience, privacy, aesthetics andstatus.See also: http://www.wsp.org/publications/eap_myth.pdfhttp://www.wsp.org/publications/af_latrines.pdfhttp://www.sanicon.net/titles/title.php3?titleno=206The case studies of WEDC on sanitation demand contain interesting field information oneffective demand vs. taking up what is offeredhttp://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/projects/new_projects3.php?id=36&url=../specialistactivities/interests.php?area=9Contact: Ian Smout, i.k.smout@lboro.ac.ukThe removal of excreta from living spaces has major health benefits, not just to individualfamilies but also to their neighbours. Such externalities amply justify the use of public fundsfor latrine promotion. See http://www.sanicon.net/themes/intro.php3?theme=1Similarly schools sanitation confers public benefits by improving health and increasingschool enrolment. See http://www.irc.nl/page/9579Those who lack it do not always realise that they need it or can afford it. Excreta disposalhas important health benefits, but there are substantial externalities - my latrine protectsmy neighbours from my excreta - which more than justify the use of public funds topromote it. Sanitation is also about more than health; benefits include convenience, privacyand security for women, and (for school sanitation) increased school enrolment.80 Hygiene promotion