Diarrhea prevention in a Kenyan school through the use of a simple safe water and hygiene intervention.

The Safe Water System (water treatment with bleach, safe storage, and behavior-change communications) was implemented to prevent diarrhea in rural Western Kenya . Clinic visits for diarrhea peaked during the January through March period in 2002 at 130 and in 2003 at 71, but in 2004, after project implementation, only 13 diarrhea episodes were recorded. The project saved the school about $5.49 per student per year. The project has been expanded to 70 schools, and an evaluation is planned. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2007;76:351-3.