Sanitation and Hygiene Improvement for Schools in Vietnam

by World Vision Singapore

Urban poor families living in District 4 of Ho Chi Minh City face high rates of infectious diseases every year due to environmental pollution, the dumping of garbage into canals and limited personal hygiene practices. Being located near a river, the conditions are wet and stagnant creating a favourable environment for breeding of mosquitoes and spreading of infectious diseases, particularly dengue fever and hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Caption: Garbage along the streets of District 4 in Ho Chi Minh

Caption: School facilities for clean water is inadequate

Schools in District 4 also possess inadequate infrastructures for clean water, sanitation and garbage collection to meet the utility needs of students. Situations like these contribute to lack of sufficient WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) systems to sustain a hygienic, clean environment to promote child health in the schools. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of Ho Chi Minh City, the city had recorded an increase of 5.5 times in dengue fever cases in 2022 as compared to 2021. World Vision is currently working on strengthening the sanitation and hygiene systems and practices in 15 project schools. 

Together with local partners including The District Department of Education and Training, the School Management Board, and the Project Management Board at the wards and also the Waste Management Board, World Vision will develop the necessary mechanisms for maintaining and protecting the setup of handwashing facilities and wastewater systems at schools and in the community. A peer-education approach will also be adopted, where child core group members will be trained to conduct Behaviour Change Communication activities to promote hygiene practices.

Your donation in partnership with Ya Kun International will go towards supporting the following three areas of WASH intervention by World Vision to directly benefit 15,234 people including 12,834 children. 

• Set up handwashing facilities in schools in need to reduce infectious diseases
• Upgrade wastewater system for hygienic environment
• Educate children, teachers, communities on environment & personal hygiene

Caption: Handwashing station to promote hygiene practices to prevent infectious diseases.