A Non-Governmental Organization, World Vision has cautioned all students in tertiary institution to strictly adhere to laid down hygiene protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This follows the re-opening of tertiary institutions by the government for continuing schools to complete the semester.
Speaking to Citi News after the final stage of the school sanitation solutions challenge in Accra, WASH Technical Coordinator, Yaw Attah Arhin said hygiene must be prioritized in various schools to protect all continuing students.
“There is the need to practice enhanced hygiene which has proven to be very effective. The social distancing too must be adhered to. They need to ensure that proper sanitation becomes a habit and a way of life as the world fights this pandemic. I believe that if we are able to comply with all these, we will live in a stay environment and not contract the disease”.
Mr. Attah says the winner of the final stage of the school sanitation solutions challenge, Arhin Maame Akua Gyimah is set to influence the improvement of sanitation in schools across the country.
“As part of the prize package for the winner, she will undertake a project for one year on school sanitation with support of World Vision and our partners. We will ensure she is engaged in the media programmes on sanitation, also influence her peers and undertake programmes to improve sanitation in Ghana”.
About the School Sanitation Solutions (Triple S) challenge
The School Sanitation Solutions (Triple-S) Campaign is to sensitize children on the importance of good sanitation as well as tap into the possible wealth of ideas from children to promote improved sanitation in Ghana.
The campaign has been proposed by World Vision International, Ghana (WVI) and Kings Hall Media Limited (KHM), who have partnered over the past four years to promote improved sanitation in Ghana.
Globally, 69% of schools have a basic drinking water service, while 66% have access to basic sanitation services (UNICEF 2016).
According to the Ghana Education Service (EMIS 2018), 49% of public basic schools in Ghana lack access to safe drinking water (7,400 public basic schools), 30% of basic schools have no toilet facilities.
In view of this, more than two million children in public basic schools and 430,000 in private basic schools are affected by the lack of decent toilets while in school.
While access to toilets in public basic schools increased by 5% between 2013 and 2018, that of private basic schools rather reduced by 2% over the same period.
If this trend continues, experts estimate that it will take Ghana 150 more years for all basic schools to have access to improved toilet facilities as against the SDG target of 100% by 2030.
