Collaborating with the Water sector is the most efficient route to improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene promotion (WASH) services in disease endemic areas. However, access to safe water in rural and urban areas in Kenya is limited at 49% and 68% respectively.
The African Institute for Health and Development (AIHD) in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH) held a Behavior Change Communication (BCC) and WASH stakeholders meeting in different counties in the coastal region, Kenya. These specific counties included Mombasa, Kwale, Tana River, Kilifi, Taita Taveta and Lamu on 12 th to 20 th June 2023.
The purpose of this meeting was to constitute an evolving framework for enhanced inter – sectoral collaboration, communication, partnership, and coordination and to overcome barriers for increased benefits clearly articulated and established. It is necessary to integrate WASH in NTD control activities. It is also evident that over 5.8 million Kenyans still engage in open defecation, compounded by inadequate provision and poor management of existing WASH facilities. Before the implementation of Lymphatic Filariasis program, the community believed the disease was as a result of curse or eating too many coconuts.