Enhancing sanitation in Dutch asylum seeker centres: A collaborative initiative

As a trained medical doctor and a monk from Myanmar, Htoon resided at Dutch asylum centres while applying for asylum. He sought to use his knowledge on sanitation and health to help fellow asylum seekers in what he calls a sequel to his thesis. The research was funded by Rotary and Van der Velden Riooleringsbeheer, with the support and consent of COA.

“Asylum centres are there to provide humanitarian support for asylum seekers, who should be given dignity while they undergo the process,”  says Htoon. “I feel compelled to be the voice for those who are less able to speak for themselves.”

Schoenmaker welcomed the report's insights and recommendations, and proposed a pilot project to implement the report’s recommendations in a new asylum seeker centre.  The pilot would aim to   enhance living conditions in the centres, improve public health and create a more harmonious environment for residents.

Htoon makes three main recommendations:  

• Promote a sense of community for hygiene maintenance
• Deliver tailored health and hygiene education
• Adapt sanitation infrastructure to accommodate cultural differences.

By encouraging residents to take collective responsibility for maintaining clean communal spaces through voluntary initiatives, hygiene maintenance can be improved. This can include fostering a sense of ownership by involving residents in creating guidelines for hygiene practices, supported by COA-provided cleaning tools and materials. “If the community takes a shared responsibility for its own hygiene and sanitation, it will also help COA to provide better services," he said.

Offering accessible health and hygiene education programmes for newcomers will improve overall hygiene awareness and practices. These programmes should be in languages they understand, culturally sensitive and address specific needs, such as proper handwashing techniques and the appropriate disposal of menstrual products.

Enhancing toilet facilities with effective drainage systems prevents water stagnation, ensuring more hygienic and user-friendly environments for residents.

The report, developed as part of IHE Delft’s Special Programme, highlights the relevance and impact of IHE Delft research within the Dutch context.