CWS News

An average of more than ten diarrhea cases per month were reported among the refugees, and three typhoid cases were reported during September. Non-hygienic and unsanitary behavior and environment put refugees and asylum seekers at risk of contracting infections such as diarrhea, typhus, and influenza. It is therefore critical to increase their awareness and improve their information and knowledge on hygiene and sanitation.

An information session was held to provide the refugees and asylum seekers information on hygiene and sanitation on October 14, 2011 at the Cipayung Refugee Center. The session - facilitated by dr. Dariyati Dawood of Megamendung Health Center and Cisca Wurangin of CWS – was in line with CWS’ campaign on hand-washing.

Naguleswari, the Sri Lanka community representative, hopes that her fellow Sri Lankan refugees and asylum seekers will be more aware of hygiene and sanitation. Three typhoid cases among Sri Lankan refugees were found at the same time during the month of September.
(Micha Sumule/ CWS Indonesia)

The information session was attended by twenty-seven participants, eighteen females and nine males Sri Lankan. They did not only get information, but also the chance to practice the correct way to wash their hands. Hand-washing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal and acute respiratory infections, which take the lives of millions people, especially children in developing countries every year. Despite of its lifesaving potential, hand-washing with soap is seldom practiced.

Naguleswari, a Sri Lankan mother of three, pointed out that the information session was very useful for her and her family. “I will always remind my children and my husband, who works in a refugee farm next to the center, to maintain their and their environment cleanliness and to wash their hands after doing activities.” As the Sri Lanka community representative, she hoped that Sri Lanka community, where the typhoid cases were found, could be more aware of hygiene and sanitation and follow hygiene practices to prevent a disease outbreak.  

At the end of the session participants drew an action plan that would ensure the participants to live a healthy living behavior. They promised to always clean their environment, boil water for consumption, and wash their hands before eating, breastfeeding and after using toilet and doing other activities. Another follow up action was CWS and Megamendung health center-joint-home-visit to ensure the behavioral changes among the refugees and asylum seekers.

In Indonesia there are 2,194 asylum seekers and 884 refugees waiting for a long-term solution. A total of 242 persons of concerns that consist of 127 refugees, 103 asylum seekers, 81 unaccompanied minors staying in Jakarta and Bogor areas receive assistance from CWS. Since 2008 CWS has been one of the UNHCR’s implementing partner for the Protecting Urban Refugee through Empowerment (PURE) Program to provide basic care to UNHCR-referred refugees and asylum seekers.