70% of schools have no access to clean water

Jun 11, 2001

About 70% of schools and institutions of learning lack clear and safe drinking water.

About 70% of schools and institutions of learning lack clear and safe drinking water. 75% lack proper medical and dental facilities. This was revealed by Dr. Jeremiah Twa-Twa, the head of the school health department in the ministry of health. Twa-Twa was addressing a workshop for stake holders in school health in Jinja recently. The workshop was attended by officials from the ministry of health, ministry of education and Sports, school heads and teachers. "Generally, less than 30% of schools have access to clean and safe drinking water. This explains the prevalence of diseases among school children," he observed. He pointed out diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea. Twa-Twa said that the situation is made worse by the fact that schools also do not have proper facilities for medical care, to deal with the affected learners. This has led to some deaths inside school or from ailments got from the schools by the students, he noted "It is worrying to realise that only 30% of schools and institutions of learning have got basic health care services. This has largely increased the poor health of learners in schools," he said. Twa-Twa called upon school administrators to improve on the school diet because it leaves a lot to be desired. "Provision of nutritious food is a key part of health education. I thus call upon school heads to make sure that they feed their learners on a balanced diet." Poor feeding is the norm in many schools where children are fed on posho and beans all the time. It is only a few schools that include vegetables and fruits in the school diet. A survey by education Vision revealed that school menus consisted of posho and beans for lunch and supper and maize porridge for breakfast. In some schools, children eat meat and take milk on Sunday. It is only in expensive private schools and top government schools that the menus were balanced. It is therefore imperative that parents pay attention to their children's diet at home. For those with children in boarding school it is vital that they pack nutritious snacks for them. Twa-Twa explained that efforts to promote health should begin as as possible early in life. Good health practices should begin at home. Then school administrators will not have problems observing, maintaining and instilling such values in children. Participants resolved that more sensitisation workshops will be held throughout the country. ends

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});