Water, sanitation, and hygiene

The SPRING/Ghana 1,000 Day Household Approach

At a 1,000 day household in northern Ghana, caretakers prevent children from consuming contaminated food and water and complement breastmilk with nutrient-rich foods.

In Ghana, the SPRING 1,000 day household approach targets nutrition improvements to pregnant women and children 2 years of age and younger, paving a clear impact pathway for each activity.

WASH 1,000 and Community Led Total Sanitation in Ghana

Women, man and baby standing outside a hut

A primary focus of our work in Ghana is the WASH 1,000 approach, which promotes four key behaviors related to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities during the first 1,000 days. This time period, spanning the mother’s pregnancy to the child’s second birthday, is critical for child growth and development. The four WASH 1,000 behaviors SPRING promotes are:

For World Toilet Day, SPRING Recognizes the Importance of Good Hygiene in Nutrition

Today, more people have access to mobile phones than to toilets, according to the WHO. While this may sound unbelievable, it is a daily reality for the 2.4 billion people without adequate sanitation. To highlight this lack, the SPRING project is participating in #WorldToiletDay awareness activities.

When WASH 1,000 Came to Piyaligo

Today almost all of the houses in Piyaligo community have latrines and many also boast tippy taps. Naaba said a stigma is now associated with open defecation and that the community is aware of its negative consequences.

The Power of a Latrine

In February 2015, SPRING began working with the citizens of Kubone to establish community-led total sanitation (CLTS), an approach that helps rural communities understand the dangers of poor sanitation and adopt solutions.

SPRING/Bangladesh Talks Handwashing on Jiboner Golpo

Bangladeshi television channel Desh TV airs a public health show called ‘Jiboner Golpo’ (Life’s Story) in partnership with USAID and Voice of America. SPRING/Bangladesh was recently invited to participate in the latest episode to discuss the importance of handwashing, especially in the context of maternal and child health and nutrition.

SPRING/Bangladesh Featured on Local Radio and Television Shows

Global Handwashing Day 2015 Celebrated in Bangladesh

SPRING joined the Government of Bangladesh, USAID, and other partners on the ground to mark Global Handwashing Day.

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Global Handwashing Day 2015 Celebrated in Bangladesh

Global Handwashing Day, celebrated every year on October 15^th, is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. A recent study in Bangladesh that directly observed handwashing behavior found that frequency of handwashing with soap after defecation was only around 19%.

Vegetables, Fish, and Tippy Taps

Determined to provide better nutrition and care for her baby, Dolly decided to enroll in a Farmer Nutrition School (FNS) in Bahadurpur in October 2013. Funded by USAID and implemented SPRING, the FNS conducts training sessions over nine months—Dolly attended every one.