Nigeria
Context
Borno, Nigeria, remains the epicentre of protracted humanitarian crisis, with more than 1.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), and many conflict incidents reported monthly. Health systems are overwhelmed, and health staff is inadequately trained.
WASH needs are negatively impacting malnutrition and contributing to the spread of water-borne diseases and pneumonia – a significant threat, particularly when coupled with COVID-19.
Our project focuses on schools in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Borno State.
Project profile
| Focus | Schools |
| Location(s) | 2 Local Government Areas in Borno State: Maiduguri and Jere |
| Roles of consortium partner(s) involved | – Tdh (lead): coordination, implementation strategy and adoption at scale – University of Maiduguri: impact evaluation, field methods and field technical evaluation support |
| Local and strategic stakeholders | – Schools – Ministry of Education – NIHSA (Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency) – WASH Cluster |
| Project overview | In Nigeria, the hands4health project will be deployed in schools in the area of Maiduguri, capital city of Borno State (north-eastern Nigeria). To achieve the project’s primary goal – developing a holistic approach to hand hygiene, water quality and sanitation, we will start by assessing the WASH needs and users’ practices and preferences regarding hand hygiene in schools of the target area. Based on these data and on the results of a first pilot phase, during which different solutions will be tested, the systemic approach will be finalised, comprising both hardware (handwashing stations) and software components (RANAS behaviour change methodology). It will then be implemented in 20 schools during the second phase of the project. The results of the intervention will be monitored throughout to evaluate the impact of the approach in terms of health and hygiene practices. |
| Main activities | – Gender-sensitive mapping of the needs of different user groups in schools – Assessment of the local market in terms of availability of suitable materials and skills – Field evaluation of different design options and development of catalogue of design options suitable for different user groups and production methods – Collection of baseline data on factors influencing users’ behaviour, acceptance and preferences of technologies/concepts – Implementation of the behaviour change techniques developed from the analysis of the baseline data and evaluation of their effect – Submission of the research protocol for the study on the health impact of the intervention to the local Ethics Committee – Training of local collaborators on the data collection process and baseline and follow-up surveys (before and after implementation, respectively) in 20 schools – Theory of change workshops with local stakeholders and dissemination of results supporting internal take-up by other country offices |
| Expected results / products | – Local production of context-specific, user-centered designs of handwashing stations – Enhanced hand hygiene practices amongst direct users (school staff, children) and the community in general – Local collaborators certified as RANAS experts – Evidence on the health impact of the implemented approach for users – Improved understanding of the WASH ecosystem in schools in Nigeria |
News on h4h activities in Nigeria
- Baseline data collection completed in Nigeria
Overview of baseline data collection As part of the hands4health project, a baseline data collection took place in primary schools in Nigeria between May 8th and June 20th, 2023. The exercise was carried… Read More »Baseline data collection completed in Nigeria - hands4health at the Swiss TPH Open House
Introducing the project and Gravit’eau to the Swiss public On the 17th of June, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) opened its doors for the public to visit its new… Read More »hands4health at the Swiss TPH Open House