Heroes of Hygiene: Community Volunteers Transform Health in East Africa

In the heart of Africa, a bustling border town attracts traders and travelers in the tens of thousands.  

Rubavu, Rwanda, located just 10 kilometers from the Rwanda - DRC border, is a nexus of trade and culture. Here, amidst the throngs of traders and travelers, a group of 2,500 community-based volunteers are working tirelessly to safeguard public health. Olivier and Jeannine are at the forefront of the District of Rubavu’s efforts to prevent disease outbreaks. 

Olivier and Jeannine, like many others, understand the importance of maintaining public health in their busy border community. Driven by compassion and a sense of responsibility, Olivier and Jeanine have made it their mission to educate their community about the importance of hygiene and sanitation in disease prevention.

Jeanine, a mother and a trader at Rubavu shares Olivier’s sentiments. "As a woman and a mother, I know that hygiene is a pillar of life, and I also know that most diseases originate from poor hygiene. With this in mind, I know my responsibilities of protecting my family include raising awareness and paying attention to hygiene and sanitation."

Olivier and Jeanine are part of a larger initiative launched in 2021. Led by the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, the three-year initiative supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), seeks to prevent the spread of zoonotic and communicable diseases across East African borders by improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and raising awareness among border communities. 

Through intensive training and capacity building, 2,500 community volunteers in Rwanda’s border communities like Olivier and Jeanine have gained the knowledge and skills to combat disease outbreaks and keep their communities safe. They have learned the importance of proper handwashing, food hygiene, and environmental sanitation.  

"We were taught the consequences of not being hygienic and the resulting health issues such as Cholera, Ebola, and other harmful diseases,” explains Jeanine. “They also taught us how to properly prepare food and drinking water, and how to wash our hands. I'm now working to raise awareness about proper hygiene in my community."

So far, the initiative has had a widespread impact. Over 6 million people in border communities have benefited from extensive health promotion activities thanks to the tireless efforts of community-based volunteers across the region like Jeanie and Olivier. These health volunteers are helping to prevent the spread of deadly diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola, and Mpox by promoting preventive health and hygiene practices.

In addition to raising awareness, IOM worked with the EAC to improve WASH infrastructure at key gathering points in border communities. Thanks to funding from the German government through GIZ, 43 fixed handwashing facilities have been constructed and renovated at the EAC Partner States' border hotspots in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The new facilities are a welcome improvement and a significant step in the fight against communicable diseases. Prosper Mulindwa, Mayor of Rubavu District, emphasizes the importance of developing local ownership of the WASH infrastructure.  

“This is a growing city. We need to develop strategies to sustain the outcomes of the WASH project beyond its lifespan. We also need to ensure continued benefits for the communities that have been served.”

However, the challenge is far from over. The increased movement of people, including across borders and within, highlights the importance of robust health measures to prevent disease transmission. As human mobility continues to rise as factors driving migration multiply, it is critical to strengthen border health systems and border officials’ capacities, conduct hygiene awareness campaigns, and enhance border health screening and referral systems.

The recent surge in Mpox cases, so far affecting 10,700 people in 19 African countries, underscores the urgency of the situation. This highly contagious disease threatens to overwhelm already straining healthcare systems, particularly in vulnerable communities. To address this crisis, IOM has launched a critical appeal for $27.8 million to implement a comprehensive Mpox response strategy, not only in the region but across the African continent. 

The long term, the benefits of investing in health systems far outweigh the investment costs. “Healthy populations lead to increased productivity and reduced healthcare costs,” explains the mayor. “This contributes to economic growth and quality of life, by enhancing the overall well-being of residents.” 

By addressing the health needs of mobile populations and border communities, the initiative lays groundwork for future interventions aimed at enhancing public health and resilience.