IPHE India unveils IFH / WSSCC Training Resource on home hygiene

Saltlake, Kolkata, June 7, 2014: On the occasion of the World Environment Day the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH), UK in association with the Institution of Public Health Engineers (IPHE), India launches the Hindi and Bengali versions of the IFH/WSSCC Training Resource on "Home Hygiene in Developing Countries Prevention of infection in the home and peri-domestic setting" at Rabindra Okakura Bhawan, Saltlake, Kolkata.

Padmabhushan Dr. BindeshwarPathak, World Water Laureate 2009, has released the Hindi version of the Training Resource while Mr. AsadurRahman, Chief of UNICEF, Kolkata has released the Bengali version of the same. Prof. K.J. Nath, President, IPHE and South East Asia Regional Coordinator, IFH (UK) presided over the function and delivered the theme address. Padmabhushan Dr. V.P. Sharma, Past President of the national Academy of Sciences, India, S.N. Dave, Water Sanitation Hygiene Specialist, UNICEF, Kolkata were present among others in the occasion.

• IFH and IPHE unveils a guidebook on home hygiene in Hindi and Bengali
• IFH/WSSCC Training Resource on home hygiene has been developed with the objective of providing practical support for the development of community hygiene promotion.
• Training Resource will act as a ready material to give guidance for teachers, community nurses and workers and other health professionals to serve better.

The Training Resource on home hygiene which was originally published in English by Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), Geneva and IFH in the year 2005 has already been translated in Russian and Urdu. The Bengali and Hindi translation has been facilitated by Sulabh International Social Service Organization, Delhi and National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI). The Training Resource will give guidance for teachers, community nurses and workers and other health professionals in developing countries to serve better. The book will act as a ready material to enhance the capacity of public health workers.

Given the bleak scenario of water, sanitation and hygiene at home in the developing countries, there is a need of an integrated strategy to improve water quality and sanitation along with improving hygiene practices at home. The changes in attitudes would only come through higher level of health education and knowledge. Almost all water borne diseases are spread through exposure of food and drinking water to human faces. Supply of quality water would not be fruitful in preventing infectious diseases if the same is contaminated through unhygienic practices at home. Hence, the rate of infection could be reduced by safe disposal of waste, as well as, safe home hygiene practices along with quality food and drinking water.

Prof. K.J. Nath, South East Asia Regional Coordinatorof IFH and President of IPHE, India said, "In developing countries, public health concerns are expressed relating to only public settings and services like municipal services, hospitals and environmental sanitation, etc. But, unfortunately, the home is not considered as the important setting along with public institutions in the chain of diseases transmission through the community. The government must give emphasis for improving home hygiene to optimize the return from its efforts and investments in public health. Promotion of home hygiene in the domestic setting is possibly the most cost-effective among all the preventive public health measures in the developing countries like India."

Padmabhushan Dr. BindeshwarPathak, said, "We are finding it difficult to prevent and control infectious diseases.In India, diarrheal diseases alone cause more than 0.6 million deaths annually. Studies have shown that in the slum areas of major cities, diarrheal incidences as high as 10.5 episodes per child per year occur on a regular basis. Thus promoting home hygiene is a must."

About IPHE
Established in 1972, Institution of Public Health Engineers (IPHE), India is a premier forum of Public Health & Environmental Engineers of the country. The institution has got a diversified spectrum of activities like organizing seminars, symposia, workshops and training courses; undertaking R & D projects, consultancy services and publication of quarterly technical journals.

About IFH
International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH), UK takes international initiatives to raise awareness of the fundamental role that home hygiene plays in preventing infectious diseases. IFH also promotes research into the areas of home hygiene. It also encourages debates to build consensus on issues relating to home hygiene.

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