hands4health

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Our Goal

This project promotes safe hygiene practices and improved water quality in schools and primary health care facilities through low-cost, practical solutions. By combining behavior change, water chlorination, and hygiene awareness, hands4health empowers communities to protect their health—especially in areas without reliable water infrastructure.

Project Profile

hands4health addresses critical hygiene and water quality challenges in schools and primary healthcare facilities that lack access to reliable water supply systems. Implemented in Palestine, Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso, the project focuses on promoting safe hygiene behaviors, water chlorination, and cost-efficient sanitation solutions to reduce the spread of disease in vulnerable settings.

hands4health is led by a diverse consortium of NGOs, academic institutions, and private sector partners, combining practical field interventions with applied research. This integrated approach ensures that solutions are evidence-based, context-specific, and scalable. Research tools and protocols are designed to be flexible, allowing or adaptation in complex and emergency-affected environments.

Together, the partners envision transforming the current reality in low- and middle-income countries, where 45% of primary healthcare facilities and 50% of schools still lack access to handwashing, basic hygiene, and water supply systems.

By emphasizing innovation, local ownership, and coordinated action, hands4health contributes to healthier, more resilient schools and healthcare settings – while strengthening systemic change across the WASH sector.

Location

Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Palestine

Duration

2021 – 2025

Theme

WASH
Research

Key Services Provided

Project Communication
Knowledge Dissemination

Staff

Matthias Saladin, Project Coordinator

Valérie Bertschy, Communications Specialist

hands4health website

Main Activities

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Hygiene

Chlorination

Promoting hand hygiene in schools and healthcare facilities through tailored awareness campaigns, hygiene education, and behavior change activities that empower children, teachers, and health staff.

Improving water quality by supporting low-cost chlorine testing (e.g., FRC meters), routine chlorination practices, and data-driven monitoring via platforms like mWater.

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Maintenance

Research

Supporting the rehabilitation and preventive maintenance of WASH infrastructure in schools and healthcare facilities, in close coordination with local authorities and communities.

Combining practical interventions with applied reserach to develop context-specific, flexible solutions. Research tools are adapted to fragile and emergency-affected settings to ensure relevance and impact.