Measures to Improve Hygiene and Sanitation;- The term “hygiene” describes practices that enhance cleanliness and promote excellent health. What’s at Stake. One in three persons worldwide don’t have a clean toilet in their house.
Toilets are only one aspect of sanitation; it also refers to the infrastructure, practices, and services that guard against diseases brought on by contact with human waste. Read More.
Hygiene and Sanitation
Hygiene – Things that you do to keep yourself and your surrounding clean to maintain good health. Few examples of hygiene practices are:
- Personal hygiene
- Food hygiene
- Medical hygiene practices, e.g.
- Sterilization of instruments used in surgical procedures
- Use of protective clothing and barriers, such asmasks, gowns, caps, eyewear and gloves
- Safedisposal of medical waste
- Disinfection of reusable materials such as linen, pads, uniforms
- Hand-washing before and after dispensing of medicines
Sanitation – is promotion of health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes, treatment and proper disposal of sewage or wastewater.
Few examples of sanitation are:
- Managementof human faeces
- Proper handling of food (Foodsanitation)
Environmental sanitation
Differences between Sanitation and Hygiene
| Sanitation | Hygiene |
| Promotion of healthy living and good health by preventing human contact with waste and other forms of organisms causing diseases. | Cumulative group of practices perceived by group of people to be a way towards healthy living |
| Associated with human wastes, environmental wastes and other forms of wastes | Associated with human body |
Importance of Sanitation and Hygiene.
Importance of Sanitation
- Prevent variety of harmful or deadly bacteria from infecting people
- Increase lifespan and improve of quality of life
- Ensure safe living environment particularly in the rural setting
- Providing measures to control diseases
Importance of hygiene
- Protects people against disease germs that are present in the environment
- Promote health to “a state of maximum physical and mental well-being” rather than mere absence of disease
- It promotes professional ethics.
Key Points
- Hygiene are practices done to maintain healthy living
- Sanitation is promotion of health through prevention of human contact with wastesSanitation and hygiene are important for disease prevention.
References
- Cook, G., & Zumla, A. (2003). Manson’s Tropical Diseases. (21sted.). London: Saunders Ltd.
- GoT (2004): National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidelines for Healthcare Workers. Dar es Salaam: MOHSW
- GoT (2013) Standard Treatment Guidelines & National Essential Medicines List (4thed). Dar es Salaam: MOHSW
- Nordberg, E. (1999): Communicable Diseases, A Manual for Health Workers in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nairobi: AMREF
- Nordberg, E., Kingondu, T., & Mugambi, E., et al. (2008) Communicable Diseases. (4thed). Nairobi: AMREF
- Nyamwaya, D. (1994): A Guide to Health Promotion through Water and Sanitation, Nairobi: AMREF
- World Health Organization (1999), Guidelines for safe disposal of unwanted pharmaceuticals in and after emergencies. Geneva: WHO