Before the pandemic, a good number of Rwandans had a poor handwashing exercise. However, as residents of Bugesera District attest, Covid-19 has established the importance of this drill to their general wellbeing.

Elianna Yankurije, 70, a resident of Ruhuha sector, says that the pandemic printed lasting lessons for anyone who used to take handwashing for granted.

Yankurije says the culture of handwashing in the area existed before Covid-19, but because of the long distances to fetch water, it was not easy to be consistent.

"We used to wash our hands but not every time. However, due to the pandemic, we have seen water infrastructure brought closer to the community and this has enabled us to not just prevent Covid-19, but also improve the handwashing culture in general,” she says.

68-year-old François Kamashana shares the same sentiments, saying that the importance of handwashing was emphasised and understood better during the pandemic because of the government’s efforts in educating citizens and providing access to clean water sources as part of the response plans.

"We never knew how to wash hands the proper way, but just drop water in the palms and think that it is done. Now we know that one needs to spend at least a minute washing hands,” Kamashana explains.

With access to clean water in most village communities in Bugesera, residents say that the Covid-19 pandemic has left them with a good hygiene culture which will enable them to curb similar pandemics in the future, in case of any. 

To help the residents remain consistent with these practices, Water Aid Rwanda, a local representative of the international NGO, Water Aid, which focuses exclusively on ensuring equitable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education, came in to push for good sanitation, water supply, hygiene promotion, among other measures.

For instance, at the moment, in the sectors of Bugesera, 35,576 people can now access water from 34 boreholes newly made for accessibility of clean water and sanitation.

Underground rain water harvesting tanks have also been put in place which now serve 9,817 people within the community.

In addition to this, school latrines and menstrual hygiene management rooms have been made available for 7,470 learners.

All these were part of a recently launched campaign known as ‘Umudugudu Utagira Icyaha, Isuku Hose’ (Village with no crime, Hygiene All Around), Bugesera District, which is expected to go on until the end of October.

This was in line with the International Handwashing Day, observed on October 15 every year. Its aim is to set precedence for a continued community resilience against other pandemics in the future as water infrastructure investments increase due to Covid-19.

When it comes to water access for all, Camille Karangwa, the Water Aid Rwanda Advocacy and Campaign Manager, says with the growing culture of handwashing and hygiene in communities, the organisation, in partnership with the government, is focusing on mass education and increasing access to clean water.

As a result of this, the campaign is expected to be extended nationwide in the near future.