Human capacity development tools for improving sanitation and hygiene practices among Cambodia’s public primary school children

24 February 2015

Phnom Penh – GIZ, in collaboration with School Health Department of Ministry of Education Youth and Sports launched the School and Community Manual and Video for  the Fit for School Programme, aiming to improve sanitation and hygiene in schools throughout Cambodia. The materials are  human capacity development tools that will be used to train school teachers and communities to implement the Fit for School Program in their schools.

The Fit for School Programme focuses on three cost-effective and evidence-based interventions, including:

1. Daily group hand-washing with soap;
2. Daily group tooth-brushing with fluoride toothpaste; and
3. Bi-annual mass deworming.

These three health precautions have been implemented in public primary schools to improve the school children’s health and academic performance.

The launch was attended by several high-ranking officials including the Minister, Secretary and Under Secretary of State of Ministry of Education Youth and Sport, Center Director of SEAMEO INNOTECH Philippines, First Secretary of the German Embassy of Cambodia, and representatives from the Department of Health Prevention of the Ministry of Health, Department of Rural Health Care of the Ministry of Rural Development, and the Department of National Committee for Sub-national Democratic Development of Ministry of Interior.

Twenty-five representatives from provincial and district office of education and school director and community members from the programme’s 10 model schools also attended.