Participatory approach to promote hygiene and sanitary practice in peri-urban areas, Lusaka, Zambia

This paper depicts how a participatory approach successfully changed people’s hygiene practices in peri-urban settlements in Lusaka, Zambia. The Ministry of Health in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) undertook programmes for the improvement of hygiene and sanitary conditions in unplanned settlements in order to improve health status of under 5 years children in Lusaka in 1997. The Method used to mobilize community volunteers was a participatory approach, PHAST (Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation) and the formation of task force committees to carry out environmental health activities. The concept of sustainability was also taken into consideration from the beginning. The outcome of this project showed that hygiene practices of the project’s targeted population were improved. The Ministry of Health intends to replicate the concept of PHAST which was introduced by the project to other Districts in the country.