As part of efforts to enhance access to safe and affordable sanitation and hygiene services, in promoting the importance of sanitation and hygiene practices, the National Child Development Agency, UNICEF, LIXIL, and Gicumbi District handed over the first batch of launching the distribution of 20,000 SATO sanitation and hygiene products to home-based Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers around the country.

Given the critical role of water, sanitation and hygiene services in early childhood development, these latrine pans and handwashing taps will be distributed among 10,000 home-based early childhood development (ECD) centres in 17 districts. These products will help to provide safe sanitation and hygiene services to over 100,000 children in the home-based ECD centres.

“The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that WASH needs are vital to our survival. Spread of deadly infections and diseases can be slowed or stopped by observing good hygiene practices that are known to be effective. Access to handwashing necessities and sanitary facilities for defecation makes a great impact on children’s health, and this partnership brings us one step closer to making full accessibility a reality.” highlighted Julianna Lindsey, UNICEF Rwanda’s Country Representative.

The Director General of the NCDA, Ms. Nadine Umutoni Gatsinzi, said “Water, sanitation and hygiene is one of the pillars of early childhood development. Children have priority in benefiting from any innovations that have to do with water, sanitation and hygiene, since children are more vulnerable and at higher risk of succumbing to infections, stunting and other forms of malnutrition that arise from poor hygiene. With our partners, we shall continue to make efforts to discourage unsanitary practices and encourage hygiene practices like regular handwashing, especially in ECD settings and other child-focused spaces.”

NCDA’s Director General, Ms. Nadine Umutoni Gatsinzi, says, “Children have priority in benefiting from any innovations that have to do with water, sanitation and hygiene, since children are more vulnerable and at higher risk of succumbing to infections that arise from poor hygiene. The Government of Rwanda (GoR), in partnership with a number of organizations, has made tremendous efforts to discourage unsanitary practices like open defecation and encourage healthy practices like regular handwashing, especially in schools and child-focused spaces. This initiative by LIXIL and UNICEF adds to those efforts and sets a foundation for future partnerships.”

SATO’s hygiene solutions that will be distributed are a water-preserving handwashing tap and a pit sealing water-saving toilet pan. These products can significantly decrease the exposure of children to disease-causing pathogens that can easily spread amongst children of a very young age. During the launch, demonstrations on the installation and function of the products will beware made to key representatives and implementers of the project.