Hygiene

** COVID-19 - specific information **

Some persons with disabilities may experience increased risk of contracting COVID-19 as they may have difficulties in implementing basic hygiene measures to keep the virus away. Simple tips may help you to design an inclusive hygiene program for your COVID-19 response: 

• Make your communication messages accessible to all : all humanitarian aid responses must provide public health information that is accessible to persons with disabilities, such as using sign language, captioning, text messages. 
• Consult persons with disabilities about their difficulties to fight against COVID-19
• Adjust your hygiene kits to reflect the special needs of women with disabilities

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Persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls might require specific support to manage their hygiene in a dignified and safe way.

Assessments prior to large scale distribution of non-food items (including hygiene kits) must include consultation with women with disabilities about these needs.

Few actions should be taken in order to make sure dignity, access and safety are guaranteed: 

• Distribute intimate hygiene products directly to the person who needs them to protect people’s dignity;
• Persons with disabilities might require additional amount of water to ensure their hygiene;
• Latrines and washrooms require sufficient space for the person with a disability using assistive devices and/or personal assistant;
• Ensure that latrines and washroom have locks and are well lit.