Reducing Waterborne Diseases in 131 Kenyan Schools

The teachers were trained on their roles in schools and how to ensure acceptable WASH standards in their schools. It came out during the training that teachers are critical in COVID19 prevention in schools as they bring the aspect of sustainability. Teachers are also important as they can be role models to the pupils as well the staff in school. They are critical in ensuring that pupils follow the hygiene rules and standards in school environment. The teachers can be a good link between the school community and the ministry of health.

The pupils were also encouraged to form Health Clubs. The clubs will be critical in that WASH and COVID19 education will continue and most pupils will be reached.  The government has provided protocols and guidelines for schools which WE REACH trained them on. These guidelines have been sent out to all schools and its implementation seems to be slow because of lack resources in most of these schools. Schools are looking for support from partners especially those doing WASH projects. That’s why this training was critical as it is highlighted as one of the recommendations by the ministry of education guidelines. Schools are supposed to provide hand washing materials throughout the period children are in school.

To ensure sustainability the teachers and pupils were trained on how to make hand washing soap and subsequently given soap making materials to go and make it at their respective schools. This idea also helped sort out transport issues that WE REACH faced in our first round of distribution.