Promotion of healthier behaviours through school children

Studies carried out worldwide have shown that provision of safe water and sanitation facilities can only optimize a reduction of water and sanitation related diseases if sustainable changes in hygiene behaviour are achieved. Adoption of new behaviour is a difficult task in itself. The major objective of the Water and Sanitation Extension Programme (WASEP) is to significantly reduce diarrhoeal incidence in partner villages located in northern Pakistan. In order to achieve its objective, WASEP has been striving hard to bring about behavioural changes at grass-roots level, in addition to assisting communities to establish safe water and sanitation facilities. One of the most important initiatives towards this end has been the promotion of healthier behaviour through primary schools. This paper will describe and share the need, development and implementation, impact, and issues related to this initiative in the context of northern Pakistan.