=== Daily routines are key to creating good habits for a lifetime ===
'''Basic data:'''
The Fit For School program was implemented in Philippines, that aiming to address the hygiene deficiency related diseases by integrating daily group hand washing, tooth brushing and bi-annual deworming as well as daily toilet cleaning and maintenance into the school routine.
==== '''The project and the experiences:''' ====
Many Philippine schools and daycare centers have joined the “Essential Health Care Program” (EHCP) as response to a number of serious health problems faced by elementary school and day care daycare children on the archipelago and is based on the Fit for School Approach. EHCP is a national hygiene promotion program that encourages children to practice the skills of regular hand washing with soap and tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste as a part of their daily routine in the school to facilitate and sustain healthy behaviour. It currently reaches 2.5 million children in Philippine Elementary Schools. The kids enjoy the activities when they perform them together with their peers. “At first, I thought it would be very difficult to implement this program with the children. But I realised that after a few weeks, children easily perform the daily routine of washing their hands and then brushing their teeth. In fact, they enjoy doing it every day. It is not difficult after all. Also, I find so much fulfillment that, in my own small way, I am teaching children a very simple habit that will have a lifetime impact on their health when they grow older. Health is wealth!” Ms. Liezl Catapang, a day care worker, proudly announces. In addition to the daily activities, biannual deworming is conducted. Studies have shown that already after one year of implementation, the prevalence of high intensity worm infections, oral infections, absenteeism and malnourished children have significantly decreased. The continuous supply of soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste for the children is a prerequisite for the implementation. Costs amount to only 25 Pesos (which is less than $1USD) per child for the entire school year, paid by the local governments.
[[File:Philippines2.JPG|thumb|right|200px|A class is organised in 5 groups to keep school toilets and washing facilities clean. Once a week each group is on duty, after finishing they put their name card in the 'done' box.]]
The GIZ Fit for School Program, working in the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia together with their partners SEAMEO, UNICEF and DFAT (formerly AusAID) are now focusing on the issue of sanitation in schools by building upon the experiences of the hygiene promotion interventions. Improvements in sanitation are expected to further enhance the health of children. In the Philippines, most of the existing toilets are built inside or attached to classrooms. Though they are well maintained as teachers want their classrooms to be tidy and clean, they offer only little privacy. Many schools also lack functional, gender-separated and enough sanitary facilities leading to open defecation, to holding back the urge to use the toilet, and not washing hands with soap after using the toilet. Against this backdrop, the key task is to identify simple, scalable and sustainable measures to improve sanitation in elementary schools and daycare centres that can be maintained, operated and kept clean by the schools in the long run.
Involving the communities through Parent-Teacher Associations has also shown to be very successful. For example, parents and communities are involved in the construction of hand-washing facilities and take an active role in program monitoring. Community involvement increases ownership of parents to take a role to improve their school and be proud of it. Community participation also puts pressure on school management and the local government to perform their duties.
'''The key Key lessons of the story:'''
"It is clear that without proper education, health suffers. And without proper health, good education is not possible." - Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former WHO Director General
===Contribution to the SuSanA sustainability criteria ===
'''Promote health and hygiene effectively:''' Daily group hand washing can change behaviour and be fun! '''Promote health and hygiene effectively:''' Schools learning simple management skills which keep wash facilities clean and functional–making it a fun activity is one key to success. '''Socially acceptable and institutionally appropriate:'''
An interactive monitoring process with users '''Promote health and stakeholders leads hygiene effectively:''' Schools learning simple management skills which keep wash facilities clean and functional–making it a fun activity is one key to development of context specific solutionssuccess.
'''Technically Socially acceptable and institutionally appropriate, including O&M & financially and economically viable:''' An interactive monitoring process with users and stakeholders leads to development of context specific solutions.
'''Technically appropriate, including O&M & financially and economically viable:''' Strengthening school-based management and making sure operation and maintenance is properly budgeted.
=== Project details ===
'''''Fit for School Inc.'''''(FIT) is a Philippine non-government organization that works closely with the health and education sectors, various development agencies and private partners on effective school health programs. We offer information, technical assistance and a high-level network to support the institutionalization of school health programs.
==== Contact ====
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