Rapid Assessment of Sanitation, Handwashing Facilities and Communication Equipment in Schools

Project Overview

• Field: Environmental health and climate change
• Duration: 11 – 12/2015
• Funder/client: East Meets West Foundation
• Implementing agency: Center for Environmental and Health Studies (CEHS), in coordination with the Center for Applied Research on Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation
• Location: Phú Thọ, Hòa Bình, Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An, Vietnam

Introduction

The project conducted a rapid assessment of sanitation facilities, handwashing conditions and communication equipment at 310 schools across four provinces: Phú Thọ, Hòa Bình, Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An. The assessment provided a real picture of availability, usage status, and improvement needs for sanitation and handwashing facilities as well as communication materials and equipment in schools.

Survey results provided a basis for stakeholders to identify challenges, gaps and priority needs in investment, management, operation and communication for school sanitation. The project also helped shape appropriate intervention directions to improve a safe, healthy learning environment for students.

CEHS's Role

CEHS conducted the assessment under the technical leadership of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trịnh Hữu Vách, Dr. Đoàn Trọng Trung, MSc. Trần Trọng Khuê and MSc. Nguyễn Thị Việt Hòa. The consulting team was responsible for developing the survey protocol and tools, coordinating with localities on field survey planning, organizing field data collection, processing and analyzing data, and finalizing the results report.

Key Activities

• Designing the rapid assessment protocol and developing survey tools for sanitation facilities, handwashing and communication equipment in schools.
• Coordinating with localities to develop a detailed field survey plan across the four project provinces.
• Organizing data collection at 310 schools in Phú Thọ, Hòa Bình, Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An.
• Recording information on status, usage, operation and improvement needs for sanitation facilities, handwashing points and communication equipment.
• Processing, consolidating and analyzing survey data.
• Developing the rapid assessment report, including key findings and proposed directions.

Key Results

• Completed the rapid assessment survey of sanitation facilities, handwashing and communication equipment at 310 schools across the four project provinces.
• Provided field data on the condition of school sanitation infrastructure, handwashing point accessibility, and communication equipment status.
• Identified needs, gaps and priority issues in managing, maintaining, investing in and using school sanitation and handwashing facilities.
• Finalized the results report as a basis for developing support plans and improving school sanitation conditions.