The aim of this project is to help improve water, sanitation and hygiene in one primary school in Awo-idemili, Imo state and provide hygiene education to pupils & school teachers. One solar powered borehole & a block with 3 male/3 female toilets & hand washing facilities will be constructed at the school. Positive changes from the project include constant water supply, improved health/hygiene education & cleaner environment. 450 children & 22 teachers will benefit directly from the project.
The school targeted for this project is Central School, Awoidemili with a total of 450 pupils between the ages of 4-12 & 22 teachers. The school has no access to water supply & the school toilet is so dilapidated that the pupils prefer open defecation to using the toilets. The environment has become so unhygienic that many pupils suffer from water borne diseases like diarrhea and cholera . This has also led to low attendance and long absences due to constant illnesses by some school children.
Through this project, 472 school children and teachers and 500 households will have access to clean drinking water, constant water supply & a greener environment. More than 100 people would be trained on hygiene promotion & other life skills development. 500 households will be sensitized on the importance of installing clean toilets at the home front. 5000 community members are sensitized on good hygiene & sanitation practices. Through the project, 30 households could begin subsistence farming.
Improved health and reduced incidences of preventive diseases amongst the school children will be one of the impacts. Other changes will include cleanliness and overall hygiene awareness and maintenance as a result of behaviour change trainings that will be conducted. It is hoped that more women will engage in subsistence farming due to the availability of water from the borehole. This will generate additional income for their families and thereby reduce incidences of malnutrition.
