World Hand Hygiene Day: Thrive's collaboration with Vietnam's Women's Union to combat COVID-19

In alignment with the Vietnamese government’s response to COVID-19 and WHO’s recommendations , Thrive Networks/East Meets West Foundation (TN/EMWF) in collaboration with the Vietnam Women’s Union and health workers have launched the program “Women’s Initiative to Leave No One Behind in Preventing the Spread of COVID-19” which aims to empower women in vulnerable communities in disease prevention efforts in five provinces of Vietnam.

Having access to clean water and basic hand washing facilities is crucial for disease prevention, the team provides stainless steel hand washing stations to 173 commune health clinics and Labobo/Happy Tap hand washing devices to 173 commune kindergartens and 980 vulnerable households in the five provinces under the WOBA (Women-led Output based Aid) project.

They also conduct on-site demonstrations of hand washing to raise hygiene awareness and increase practice. Target households and kindergartens also receive additional soap. Under the WOBA project, a Water for Women initiative, Thrive Networks is supporting the Women's Union and health workers to develop communication materials on COVID-19 preventive hygiene practices.

Combined with the emergency water kiosk intervention, an estimated 28,000 people will be reached in five project provinces including health clinics and kindergartens in 173 project communes.

Project website in Vietnamese: https://emwwoba.info/