In rural communities across Afghanistan, families face persistent challenges due to limited access to clean, safe drinking water and a lack of proper sanitation and hygiene practices. According to International Medical Corps’ multi‑sector needs assessment findings in Paktika, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions are critically poor: only 44% of households have access to improved drinking water sources, 42% have sufficient water for basic needs, 6% have access to improved sanitation, and just 3% have functional handwashing facilities with soap and water. These gaps not only make daily life more difficult but also contribute to the rapid spread of waterborne diseases and infections. Ensuring that communities have access to essential hygiene knowledge and adopt safe hygiene practices is critical for preventing disease and improving public health, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas where awareness of key hygiene behaviours often remains limited.
With funding from the European Union and in partnership with Première Urgence Internationale, International Medical Corps is conducting WASH interventions, including awareness on appropriate hygiene practices, at the fixed health facilities in remote areas of Paktika province.
Amir Khan is a resident of Zandrai village in Urgon district in Paktika province. He lives in a large household of 13 family members. Before participating in International Medical Corps’ hygiene promotion sessions, his household had limited knowledge of proper hygiene practices. Handwashing with soap was not consistently practiced, drinking water was not always stored safely, and awareness of food hygiene and disease prevention was low.
As a result, family members, particularly children, frequently experienced diarrhoea and other hygiene-related illnesses. Like many people in his community, Amir Khan did not fully understand the connection between everyday hygiene practices and good health. Everything began to change when he attended hygiene awareness sessions conducted by International Medical Corps.
“Before attending these sessions, we did not realise how important proper hygiene was for protecting our family’s health,” Amir Khan explained. “We thought illness was a normal part of life. Now, we understand that many diseases can be prevented through simple hygiene practices.”
International Medical Corps played a vital role in improving Amir Khan’s hygiene knowledge and practices through its structured, health facility-based hygiene promotion activities. The hygiene sessions covered topics including safe handling and storage of drinking water, personal and household hygiene, food hygiene, menstrual hygiene management and the five critical times for handwashing with soap. The sessions combined interactive discussions with practical demonstrations, enabling participants to understand and apply the lessons in their daily lives. Amir Khan actively participated in these activities and quickly began introducing positive changes in his household.
“Now, everyone in my family washes their hands with soap before eating, before preparing food, after using the latrine and after cleaning children,” he said. “We also keep our drinking water covered and pay more attention to keeping our home and surroundings clean.”
Since adopting these practices, Amir Khan has observed a noticeable decline in diarrhoea cases among his family members and an overall improvement in their health and well-being. He reports that his family now spends less time dealing with preventable illnesses and has greater confidence in maintaining a healthy home environment.
The benefits of the intervention extended beyond Amir Khan’s household. Encouraged by the positive changes he witnessed, he began sharing hygiene messages with relatives, friends and neighbours. He regularly encourages other community members to wash their hands with soap, store drinking water safely and maintain clean household environments.
“Whenever I have the opportunity, I share what I learned with others,” Amir Khan said. “If every family follows these simple practices, our community will be healthier, and our children will suffer from fewer illnesses.”
Today, Amir Khan serves as a positive example in his village, demonstrating how simple behavioural changes can improve health outcomes. Through sustained hygiene promotion, International Medical Corps is helping families like Amir Khan’s adopt healthier practices, reduce disease risk and build more resilient communities across Paktika province.
