Reducing Waterborne Diseases in 131 Kenyan Schools

1.0: ACTIVITY PROCEEDINGS

WE REACH has employed the strategy of creating School Health Clubs in their Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme in primary schools. They are essential to the success of the initiative in our schools and the implementation of WASH activities. The School Health Club's primary objective is to encourage effective learning in schools through helping students have a better understanding of health issues that directly affect them and encouraging them to adopt healthy habits. The Club's specific goals are to:

• Encourage students to lead healthy lifestyles.
• To encourage a healthy school climate.
• To increase students' awareness and understanding of Water Sanitation and Hygiene issues.
• To promote community and domestic outreach.
• To challenge children to take up leadership roles and responsibilities.

  On April 19, 2023, the WE REACH WASH project team paid a visit to Eshisenye Primary School. There are 15 students in the health club in total, along with 3 teachers (2 Teacher Health Champions, and the School Deputy Head Teacher). The primary goal of the visit was to follow up and evaluate how the School Health Club was progressing. Through health clubs, WE REACH collaborates with school administrators to teach pupils proper sanitation and cleanliness.

When first meeting the members of the health club, one is immediately struck by how well-dressed they are compared to the other students. “They always have to put what they preach to their peers into practice because of their positions as promoters and enforcers of good hygiene,” asserted Catherine, the Teacher Health Champion. Patience Makotswe School Health Club member: "Through our health club, we have been taught how to treat drinking water (using Water Guard, a chlorine compound sold in shops), we have also learned about the importance and proper use of latrines, and we have also learned to promote menstrual health and hygiene management.” The members ensure that their fellow students wash their hands appropriately and adhere to hygiene standards. They also ensure that sanitation facilities are utilized correctly and are kept clean.

 Students are urged to bring WASH messages home to their families, and trained Teacher Health Champions are expected to regularly incorporate messages or lessons on improving WASH behaviours for their pupils. Practically speaking, Eshisenye Primary School lacks adequate toilets, changing areas for girls, and hygienic supplies like sanitary towels and water. During the visit, WE REACH observed that Eshisenye Primary School did not have any MHM facilities prior to WE REACH's Teacher Health Champion and YPP training on WASH-related issues. However, following the training, the school decided to convert an unused restroom into an MHM facility so that girls could use it as a changing room when they are on their menses.

 Teacher Catherine said that the pupils volunteer on their own initiative to keep the school and toilets clean. Children are taught to be leaders in their homes, communities, and schools via the health club. Since their behaviour will continue to alter as they become older, the community will also experience change.

 2.0:  LESSONS LEARNT

• A holistic approach to menstrual health and menstrual hygiene enhances the girl child’s ability to remain in school and perform better because it tackles both menstrual hygiene concerns as well As menstrual health concerns.
• School Health Clubs activities that engage other pupils and teachers allow for the continuity of the clubs even when teachers are transferred.
• Active School Health Club ensure proper maintenance of WASH facilities and participate in cost recovery to ensure the operation and maintenance costs are covered.
• A school with an active School Health Club observe a routine schedule of good WASH practices not just by club members but all pupils.
• Active School Health Clubs are health resource units that can be utilized by County Government to undertake campaigns for good WASH practices.

  3.0: CHALLENGES

• Challenge of gender roles whereby girls are the only ones who carry water and clean toilets as this is considered to be ‘girls work’.
• Bad school health clubs can be worse than no club at all, as they can exploit children and demoralize both children and teachers.
• Implementing school health clubs in poor, badly-equipped and overcrowded schools where children may not have chairs, tables or writing materials can end up being unsuccessful, water and sanitation facilities are sometimes badly constructed and therefore can hardly be used or maintained.
• The health club may be led by teachers who have received very little training. The teachers may have limited experience for participation among children or exchange of information and ideas among children.

 4.0: RECOMMENDATION

• Share action points developed with teachers in staff meeting and Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meetings to gain support of the school on desired actions which may require financial support. Also identify other forums to share this information.
• Document stories of change and share them.
• School health clubs should set up clear schedules for meetings (can be weekly) to discuss progress and way forward.
• There is need to determine and adhere to the best and most sustainable option for operation and maintenance of WASH school facilities.
• School sanitation and hygiene education programmes should combine hardware and software to arrive at sustainable changes
• Develop a monitoring tool for collecting data/records on personal hygiene, sanitation facilities and practices, school compound and water facility.

5.0: CONCLUSION

School Health Club initiatives from the WASH Programme continue to prove children are agents of change and have the capacity to transform their school and communities by advocating for good WASH practices as they also practice them. Children take lead of the whole process creating a schedule of WASH activities they engage in with Health Teacher Champions giving guidance. The club members share their knowledge and skills with other children in their schools and also transfer this to their homes. One of the observable transformations is in hand washing, Menstrual Health and safe water chain in the school and communities where the school is located.   

Links:

• Visit to Eshisenye primary school