Publication: Beyond Raising Awareness: Promoting Handwashing in Nepal Amid COVID 19 Crisis
Date
2020-06
ISSN
Published
2020-06
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
This report proposes a simple framework
for policy actions to effectively promote handwashing in
Nepal amid the COVID 19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Raising
awareness about proper handwashing is the cheapest, easiest
and most important way to prevent the spread of the
coronavirus, but it is far from sufficient in Nepal. Nepali
population can be categorized into three groups based on
handwashing practices. Close to half of the population in
Nepal already have a fixed location for handwashing as well
as soap and water. Raising awareness through media outlets
will be most effective for this group. More than 30 percent
have a handwashing location but without soap or water. SMS
alerts coupled with media campaigns may be necessary as 20
percent of this group do not use radio, TV, newspaper or
Internet but more than 95 percent of them own a mobile
phone. Providing or subsidizing soaps may also be necessary.
The remaining 20 percent do not have a dedicated place for
handwashing, water, or soap. This group, who tend to be
poorer and harder to reach by media outlets, needs the
greatest policy intervention as they face more difficulties
to practice handwashing but can still become the nexus of
the viral infection as half of them live in urban areas.
Besides the immediate benefits of preventing coronavirus
infections, promoting regular handwashing can have many
benefits including reduction in acute respiratoryinfections,
diarrhea, substantial reduction in neonatal infections, and
overall improved socio-economic outcomes in the long run.
Policy interventions should consider these benefits of
improving handwashing practices in this disadvantaged group.
Citation
“World Bank. 2020. Beyond Raising Awareness; Beyond Raising Awareness : Promoting Handwashing in Nepal Amid COVID 19 Crisis. COVID-19 Response Notes;. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/33979 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”