The Need For Behavioural Change Improving water and sanitation facilities does not necessarily lead to a decrease in water and sanitation related diseases. To bring about real improvements in health, the installation of facilities has to go hand in hand with their proper use and maintenance. Hygiene promotion aims to ensure the proper use and maintenance of facilities by motivating people to change their behaviour.
Hygiene promotion goes beyond hygiene education.
Politicians need to recognize the importance of improving hygiene and work to create a favourable political environment. Implementing agencies need to recognize the need to allocate adequate resources to put policy into practice. Field workers need to be willing and able to understand people's hygiene behaviour and to build on existing motives to encourage people to change where needed. IRC contributes to the sharing of knowledge and experience on hygiene promotion through advisory and evaluation missions, publications, research projects and training. Throughout, emphasis is placed on participatory approaches, making full use of local knowledge and experience to achieve lasting results.