Performance Report for FY 2009/10 - UWASNET

Performance Report for FY 2009/10
others). A number of NGOs conduct Water source mapping, locating all improved water points
and reporting on their status, for example, Goal supported Pader District conduct mapping of
all district water sources. ACORD has supported and participated in Water mapping exercise
in the districts of Mbarara, Kisoro and Rukungiri in collaboration with the area TSU. ACORD
has further purchased software (ARC GIS) to facilitate mapping of ACORD South Western
Programme and has trained district official in Gulu District Water Office on data management.
The organisation further supports radio talk-shows to facilitate discussion between water users
and service providers. SNV has developed capacity of 16 District Local Governments on data
analysis, reporting and dissemination.
4.9 Contributing to increased access to and using
handwashing facilities
Most of the NGOs and CBOs in the WASH subsector promote access to and washing of hands
with soap. A total of 26,752 household hand washing facilities have been installed with an
investment of UGX 316.3 million. These are often low cost simple technologies (tippy tap)
affordable by households.
At schools 506 hand washing facilities have been installed at an investment cost of UGX
62.5million. The installation is often coupled with sensitisation on the importance of washing
hands with soap as one way that will help the community reduce the incidence of diarrhoea
and other sanitation-related illness. Several reports actually show that communities that have
improved sanitation and hygiene behaviour suffer less incidence of diarrhoea and sanitationrelated
illnesses, but the credibility of these reports has been brought into question for lack of
documentary evidence.
Case Study 4.8
Hand Washing Practices in Western Uganda. Source Rwenzori Youth
Concern Association (RYCA)
Rwenzori Youth Concern Association (RYCA) a Community Based Non for profit/
partisan, Organization (CBO/NGO), operating in Western province of Uganda
(districts of Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Kamwenge, Kasese, kyenjojo, Kyaka and Kabarole)
conducted a Knowledge Attitude and Practices (KAP) study on handwashing. Results
indicated that a small proportion of the sampled population (30%) washed hands
after visiting latrines or places of conveniences. Only 60% of the sampled population
knew well the importance of hand washing. About 55% of the population washed
hands with clean water before eating food and only 12% washed fruits and raw edible
foods before eating. There was few hand washing facilities near latrines and within
the compounds. Those who washed hands had to pour water directly from drinking
containers after using the latrines with their dirty hands hence exposing the entire
members of households to germs.
Failures of routine hand washing in the region was associated with high level of
illiteracy and lack of knowledge and poor attitude that hand washing is waste of
time and it is seen as western culture and lack of adequate hand washing facilities
and clean water. As a way forward, RYCA has continued to educate communities
on handwashing using simple handwashing equipment made from local recycled
materials.
49 | NGOs in the Ugandan Water and Sanitation Sector