WASH in Primary Schools

Challenge

Most the County's primary schools have poor, unmaintained and inadequate sanitary facilities. This leads to ill health (even mortality) due to a consequent prevalence of water-related diseases. In turn schools experience high levels of student absenteeism and poor performance. In addition, lack of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and facilities mean that girls are stigmatised and experience isolation from other pupils. This leads to high levels of absenteeism and many girls fall behind in their education ending up leaving school before completing.

Strategies we use

Capacity building and training

In cooperation with the Kakamega County Directorates of Health and Education, we work for the establishment of:

  • School Boards of Management (BoMs), Teachers’ and Children’s’ knowledge of their:

    • Roles and responsibilities under Kenya WASH policies and guidelines

    • Health rights under Kenya Health Legislation

  • Acceptable and Sustainable WASH standards and behaviours in schools and at home

  • Schools improving their WASH facilities.

We establish a sustainable community-led solution involving school Boards of Management, Head Teachers, teachers, and students.  

Each group is trained to advocate for improved WASH behaviours and standards in line with WHO 2030 SDG targets adopted by the Kenya Government. This is supported by the formation of student health clubs led by a Teacher Health Champion who ensures that the learning is disseminated within the school to each year group. Schools forming self-help partnerships of 6–8 schools is key to the success and sustainability of the project.

The introduction of our WASH project into the schools has had a significant impact ensuring they have ownership of health matters and improving WASH facilities.   The success of the project has been acclaimed and welcomed by all the schools as well as the local Directors of Education and Health. 

To us, the highlight is that all schools are reporting early and significant reductions in absenteeism.

The Long-Term Impact

The real strength of the program is in its sustainability through the empowerment of the schools, the formation of the Student Health Clubs and in the self-help partnerships. As well as seeing the benefits of the program, they are encouraged in the knowledge that they are acting in line with the Kenya Government's policies for schools and its 2030 target for UN Sustainable Development Goal Number 6

Promotion of Hygiene

The impact of the Health Clubs particularly on school hygiene, is always immediate and impressive, with a reduction in waterborne sickness of 80%. The activities taught are educational but, most importantly, fun.  These include games and role plays, songs and verse, as well as the most popular of all; soap making.  The act of making it has proved very popular and encourages the students to use it.  "We made this!". 

Relocating hand washing stations near latrines, classrooms, and dining areas is another simple but very effective way to encourage the students to make hand washing a habit.

An unanticipated but very welcome added benefit we have found is that the students are taking the hygiene lessons they are learning back to their homes and communities.  Some have even introduced their parents to soapmaking.

Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)

Lack of awareness of good Menstrual Hygiene Management in the schools is devastating for the girls.  Most schools in the programme have had little or no appropriate infrastructure or education programmes to help. That's about 4,500 young girls in those schools alone who were without any support during menstruation.

Lack of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and facilities mean that:

  • Girls are stigmatised and experience isolation from other pupils.

  • There are high levels of absenteeism.

  • Girls fall behind in their education often leaving school before completing.

  • Girls are open to exploitation, teen pregnancies, and early marriage.

  • Unfulfilled potential

WE REACH WASH project includes a robust MHM awareness element both encouraging the schools to construct appropriate facilities and to include awareness training into the School Health Clubs’ curriculum for both girls and boys.