In a bid to promote access to safe water, Uganda Red Cross Society through its water and sanitation programmer has formed six water source committees in Kamuli, Iganga and Tororo branches to spearhead the mobilization of local materials for spring protection.

URCS has already identified six sites with potential for spring protection and preparatory work has been executed.
Through the Health and Care department, URCS has also improved hygiene in the three branches. During the fourth quarter (October-December), the National Society trained 15 PHAST groups with a total of 420 community members in basic household sanitation and hygiene. They are carrying out hygiene promotion in the branches.

During the training of the Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST) groups, a checklist of basic sanitary facilities and hygiene behaviors was developed to be implemented by each trained PHAST group member.
The water and sanitation project actors followed up members of the PHAST groups to assess the extent to which the hygiene and sanitation checklist had been implemented and it was discovered that all the PHAST group members had latrines either in use or under construction.

About 50% of the PHAST group members had hand wash facilities with water and soap on site and were being fully utilized. There was visible willingness for those who did not have them to get them in the near future.

During the fourth quarter, URCS also conducted a number of sessions at community level to create awareness on immunization services. The sessions were conducted through gatherings like market days and church. As a result of the sensitization, the immunization coverage has increased to an average of 75% in Kamuli, Iganga, Mayuge and Tororo districts. Immunization coverage in the four districts was at 65% in 2007.

At the branch level, the immunization program has been followed up through drama groups and this has improved community knowledge and participation in immunization and malaria control and prevention.

During the quarter, the programme distributed 1,500 long lasting treated nets in the 12 sub counties implementing malaria activities in the districts of Kamuli, Iganga, Mayuge and Tororo. This has contributed to increased insecticide treated nets coverage in the project areas.

By Dinah Kemigabo