WASH (Hygiene Kit Distribution)
Project Title: WASH Supplies Distribution & Hygiene Promotion.
Project Location: Kandahar.
Donor: UNICEF.
Beneficiaries: Returnees
Project Start Date: 19 March 2025
Project End Date: 23 April 2025
Total Directed Beneficiaries: 4882
Project Status: Completed
Project Overview
During the month of March 2025 as there was a gap in Kandahar Transit Center and Reception center in WASH supplies distribution and hygiene promotion between UNICEF and its partner. As ADNO is UNICEF partner and was having team in Kandahar TC and ZP so, in order to fill the gap and avoid disruption of WASH supplies distribution and hygiene promotion UNICEF requested ADNO to do coordination with HAPA and handover WASH supplies from HAPA and continue the WASH supplies distribution and hygiene promotion.
For a successful handover on 18 March 2025 ADNO conducted a meeting with HAPA in HAPA organization and discussed about the gap and hand over. HAPA was agreed to hand over WASH supplies (WASH family hygiene kits-30, Soap-11 carton, hand wash leaflet-200, aqua tab 33mg-18carton and aqua tab leaflet-1000pcs) on 19 March 2025 at Kandahar Reception Center and Transit Center. From 19 March 2025 ADNO has assigned an experienced and educated team in KTC and KRC to continue distribution and hygiene promotion process until UNICEF fills the gap.
For an effective and efficient distribution and hygiene promotion ADNO has assigned an experienced staff for supplies distribution at RC and KTC. Meanwhile ADNO has started WASH and Hygiene promotion awareness through a doctor who has several years, experience in hygiene promotion.
Project Key Activities
- WASH Awareness and Hygiene Kits Distribution in KTC.
- Aqua tab and Soap Distribution.
- Hygiene Kits Distribution.
WASH Awareness and Hygiene Kits Distribution in KTC.
Due to challenges which are compounded by decades of conflict, underdeveloped infrastructure, widespread poverty, and limited public health services, infection by several diseases and illnesses Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) awareness is critically important for the returnees and refugees especially for children and women who are coming to Afghanistan in a very critical condition. Cultural barriers and low literacy levels further hinder the spread of proper hygiene practices. Many families are unaware of some important life-saving behaviors such as handwashing with soap, safe water handling, and menstrual hygiene management. During the reporting period ADNO has provided WASH awareness to 4882 individuals-(Boys-1645, Girls-1495, Men-919, Women-823) in KTC and RC.
ADNO was distributing a family hygiene kit per family and providing hygiene promotion awareness to returnees and refugees coming from Pakistan. These families were coming to IOM and after receiving the other services IOM was referring to ADNO for kit distribution. These families were provided hygiene promotion awareness at awareness hall located in IOM.
During the reporting period ADNO has provided services to returnees by considering effectiveness and efficiency the following issues and topics:
- They were reached how to treat water, use latrines, and wash hands saves lives and reduces the burden on health sectors.
- WASH is a foundation for rebuilding healthy, dignified lives after displacement and familiarizing with their new surrounding and environment.
- They were told that many communities in Kandahar province relies on unsafe water sources (e.g., open wells, rivers), that increase the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid.
- Information was provided during hygiene promotion awareness that, sanitation facilities are limited, especially in rural areas, with many people practicing open defecation due to lack of toilets.
- They were told that, diarrheal diseases, closely linked to poor hygiene and unsafe water, are among the top causes of child deaths.
- During the summer season Kandahar province is experiencing recurring disease outbreaks, including Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) and measles, worsened by poor WASH conditions so, by applying WASH practices will save you from such seasonal diseases especially your children.
Aqua Tab Distribution In RC -ENZARGI Camp
ADNO was distributing aqua tab tablets, aqua tab guidance/usage leaflets and soap to returnees and refugees coming from Pakistan. Meanwhile they were receiving WASH basin WASH awareness (how to use aqua tabs and soap).
In order to ensure that all deportees, returnees and refugees especially of children and women that are coming from Pakistan to Afghanistan for ensuring that their health and safety is maintained and they are not infected with any type of communicable disease such AWD, malaria, malnutrition, Soil-transmitted helminth infections and Schistosomiasis. During hygiene promotion trainer emphasized on disadvantages of open defecation such as, health hazards, environmental pollution, loss of human dignity and safety and negative socioeconomic impacts.
They were told about menstrual hygiene management such as, use sanitary pads, private and safe sanitation facilities, access to clean water and soap, how top provide psychological and social support. And they were provided a sample MHM hygiene kit with proper instructions about the usage of items included in the hygiene kit or other supplies distributed to families and deportees. On 23 April 2025 with UNICEF instruction ADNO has handed over back the distribution and hygiene promotion with existing supplies to HAPA team on field.