Clean Hands, Healthy Communities: Celebrating the World Handwashing Day in the Fight Against Mpox in DRC

By Didier Nagifi, Communications Officer

On this World Handwashing Day, the community of Pont Kwango, in the Kwango province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a perfect example of the impact of hygiene practices in preventing infectious diseases. Thanks to the efforts of World Vision, the community not only avoided the Mpox epidemic but also reinforced its daily hygiene practices, in particular regular hand washing, which is essential to public health.

‘My name is Bellevie, I'm 12 years old and I'm a sponsored child. When Mpox started to spread, no one in my family was infected. My family and the whole community were spared,’ recalls the young girl, while acknowledging the efforts of World Vision, which has distributed drinking water in her community. Bellevie and her family have benefited from World Vision's awareness campaigns to prevent the spread of Mpox. ‘They taught us to wash our hands before eating, after going to the toilet, and at any other time we needed to. What's more, they gave us hand-washing kits so that we're always protected,’ she explains.

Irene, Bellevie's mother, also testifies to the positive impact of these measures. 

‘World Vision made us aware of the importance of hygiene and showed us how to protect ourselves against Mpox. Thanks to their advice, none of my children have been affected by this disease, and I am grateful to World Vision.’

‘Thanks to our joint efforts, we have provided clean water and cleaning products to the community, which has significantly improved living conditions. The absence of Mpox cases is a big step forward for all of us,’ says Patrick Saah, Integrated Programme Director at World Vision, who is delighted with the results.

For Dr Serge, a doctor at Pont Kwango Secondary Hospital, the results are impressive. 

‘Thanks to World Vision, we have been able to carry out major awareness campaigns. The World Vision  has always been there for our community, distributing soap, installing hand-washing stations, and raising awareness of the importance of hygiene.’

On World Handwashing Day, the Pont Kwango community is an example of disease prevention through sustainable hygiene practices. Thanks to World Vision's support and local families' collaboration, this community has never been affected by this epidemic.