Singing the message home

Globally 5,000 children die each day as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. Thus there is a pressing need for hygiene education.

In the Singida District of Tanzania, children are having fun learning about sanitation in their school health club. 

WaterAid in Tanzania in collaboration with its local partner organization HAPA helped form the school health club in the Kisaki Primary School in Singida.

Sixteen year old Amina, a member of the school health club, learns about sanitation issues through songs, games and drama.

I have been in the school hygiene club for four years and have never missed a meeting. I enjoy the meetings so much, especially playing the games, singing the songs and taking part in the drama.

School health clubs are an ideal way to spread sanitation messages across communities as children can bring the messages home to their families.  A change in hygiene behavior can have a huge impact on health.

In the developing world 1.8 million children die every year from diarrhea.  The simple act of washing hands with soap and water can reduce these diseases by over 40 percent.

Amina enjoys taking part in the health club’s activities, which are fun and enjoyable.

Amina notes, “I have been in the school hygiene club for four years and have never missed a meeting.  I enjoy the meetings so much, especially playing the games, singing the songs and taking part in the drama.

“We sing about how you can avoid getting cholera, bilharzia and diarrhea. One of our songs goes like this:

“We can prevent diseases like cholera, bilharzia and diarrhea,
We have to get rid of them completely and wipe them out
We should not walk barefoot by water
We should boil water before drinking it
We should wash our hands after going to the latrine and before eating
Don't wash at the water point
We can get rid of diarrhea.”