MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO MILLIONS
Water and good hygiene will prevent many cheap deaths, writes Temilade Aruya
Every year, an estimated 124,000 children under the age of five die because of diarrhoea, mainly due to unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene. Lack of adequate water and sanitation are also major causes of other diseases, including respiratory infection. Relative studies also show that nearly 1,000 children die each day due to preventable water and sanitation related diseases like diarrhoea, 40 % of which are attributable to the school environment. This brings to the fore the need to ensure, at least, a minimum level of hygiene in the school environment.
Children in particular are the most vulnerable and fragile of human beings. Right from birth they need the care and guidance of adults, and because of their fragile nature they are most vulnerable to infections and diseases hence the need for them to grow in a safe, healthy and hygienic environment. Since they spend most of their time in the school environment, it therefore becomes imperative that schools align with best global practice in school hygiene and safety requirements.
School hygiene is an important aspect of school safety. According to experts, “school hygiene has to do with the conservation and development of the health of school children. In this context, the school was looked upon as existing not only for the welfare of each child in attendance, but also for the welfare of the state and the nation”. It, therefore, becomes imperative to note that school hygiene transcends even the school environment as it has multiplier effects on the entire community. An outbreak of disease in the school can spread outside the school and affect an entire community. The outbreak of cholera in Queens College, Lagos, which affected over a thousand students leading to the death of three students is a typical example.
According to UNICEF, clean water, basic toilets and good hygiene practices are essential for the survival and development of children. Today, there are around 2.4 billion people who do not use improved sanitation, and 663 million who do not have access to improved water sources. Without these basic needs, the lives of millions of children are at risk. For children under five, water and sanitation-related diseases are one of the leading causes of death. Every day, over 800 children die from preventable diseases caused by poor water and a lack of sanitation and hygiene.
To prevent this and ensure safety and hygiene standard, provision of constant water supply for cleaning, washing, flushing and drinking are quite essential. There must also be water purification facility at schools as this will guarantee that students do not just have access to water but potable water fit for human consumption. Water plays a very important role in the maintenance of personal and physical hygiene, such as hand washing and environmental sanitation. According to UNICEF, hand washing with soap, alone, has the highest impact on reducing disease transmission, including diarrhoea, lowering the condition by about 47 per cent. However, awareness about the importance of hygiene practices, especially hand washing with soap, is low.
It thus, becomes expedient that school children are educated about basic hygiene and sanitation, most especially the importance of hand washing as a routine hygiene procedure in their daily activities. This will guide against the spread of bacteria infections that easily thrive in school settings. Moreover, children are eager to learn; they retain what they learn and are veritable instruments of instilling and promoting positive behavioural changes among their peers, in families and communities.
To further inculcate good sanitary behaviour among children, hygiene clubs could be established in schools. UNICEF has been partnering with schools in different nations to establish hygiene school clubs where students are given basic hygiene education, using various activities that are designed around school hygiene. Students are also taught to take charge of water and sanitation facilities at schools.
Furthermore, there must be standard classroom with cross ventilation and necessary school furniture and facilities which must be maintained. Facilities such as the convenience should be modern water system that enhances good hygiene and sanitation. According to WHO/ UNICEF guideline on water, sanitation and hygiene standard, schools must have a sufficient number of toilet facilities for students and teachers that are private, safe, clean and gender segregated. Additionally, school should have several hand washing facilities, including some that are close to toilets to facilitate hand washing after defecation. Facilities should cater to the needs of the entire student body, including small children, girls of menstruation age and children with disabilities. This is in addition to having a sick bay with necessary first aids and life -saving kits where children can be stabilised in times of emergency.
Hygiene is a big part of health and safety of children within the school premises, especially with regard to food and drinks. Therefore, issues revolving around consumables should be given top priority. School hygiene experts are of the view that school cafeterias and kitchens should be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent carbon and grease build-up on appliances and surfaces. This is of great importance as food is prepared in this environment and can carry a high risk of fire and illness to students and teachers.
Management of waste in school is another important factor to be considered in school hygiene. It is recommended that schools should employ professional cleaners and ensure proper and efficient disposal of waste. Schools, especially those in rural communities should desist from inappropriate means of waste disposal such as burning of waste.
The location of a school structure is a vital part of school wellbeing, hygiene and health. A lot of factors such as noise and air pollution, which can affect the students and make learning impossible, are considered. It is thus recommended that schools should not be cited close to market places, factories and the likes.
SINCE CHILDREN SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT SCHOOLS ALIGN WITH BEST GLOBAL PRACTICE IN SCHOOL HYGIENE AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS