The Ministry of Health has launched a six-month hygiene campaign on Nkombo Island, Rusizi District to improve hygiene levels in homes and public places in the area.The campaign was launched on Thursday at the Island during belated celebrations to mark the World Global Hand Washing Day, which is marked on October 15, and the World Toilet Day, marked on November 19.The days were marked in Rwanda under the theme: "A culture of hygiene for good health and sustainable development.”Dr Jean de Dieu Ngirabega, the Deputy Director General in charge of Clinical Services at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, cited poor hygiene and sanitation as one of the major causes of diseases like diarrhoea and intestinal worms.He said the campaign is aimed at enhancing good hygiene practices, reducing diarrhoea and intestinal worms’ incidences and contributing to the fight against malnutrition and poverty."Research shows that washing hands reduces 50 per cent of all the illnesses caused by poor hygiene. I, therefore,  encourage the you to develop a hand washing culture because the small things we ignore can cost a life,” Ngirabega told the Nkombo residents.Victor Sebagabo, the executive secretary of Nkombo sector, cited lack of enough pit-latrines as  one of the main sanitation challenges the sector is facing.The island has a population of 17,179 inhabitants."Out of the 3,232 households on the island, only 2,500 have  pit-latrines. The over 700  households may be disposing  of their wastes in the water we use to cook, and bathe or in our gardens,” Sebagabo said.Beatrice Buhoro, a mother of four and a resident of Bigoga cell in Nkomba sector, was one of the three residents whose houses were inspected by officials to check the status of hygiene in individual homes.She says despite the fact that the residents are doing everything they can to maintain proper hygiene, there is still a lot to be done.The island has one health centre and two health posts with 1,788 community health workers grouped in 16 cooperatives.Dr. Ngirabega advised residents to drink treated/clean water, and ensure proper use of latrines to avoid contracting sanitation-related ailments.