LAGOS/Nigeria: In a remarkable collaborative effort, WaterAid and the Kimberly Clark Corporation have ushered in a new era of improved sanitation and hygiene at the Army Children Primary School in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area of Lagos State. The much-anticipated unveiling of modern toilet facilities and running water took place on Thursday in Lagos, drawing praise and gratitude from the local community.
Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, Mr. Adeola Banjo, conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to WaterAid and Kimberly Clark Corporation for their invaluable assistance to the school. The project, known as the Sanitation Improvement Project, specifically targeted selected schools in urban and peri-urban areas of Lagos.
Representing the Chairman at the event, Mr. Niyi Odugbesi, the Executive Secretary of the Council, underscored the significance of the initiative and encouraged the children to utilize the newly provided facilities responsibly.
Mrs. Grace Uwadiale, a Sanitation and Hygiene Consultant from WaterAid, highlighted that the Sanitation and Hygiene Improvement Project was initiated by WaterAid with generous support from the Kimberly Clark Corporation. This comprehensive project extended its reach to public schools, Primary Healthcare Centres, and communities within the Ikorodu North LCDA.
Uwadiale explained, “It was a WaterAid initiative funded by the Kimberly Clark Corporation for communities in Ikorodu North and Ojodu LCDA. One of the essential criteria for project selection was the availability of water.”
She continued, “So, this school met the criteria. One of the criteria that we had for them to be selected was the availability of water because the project is supporting sanitation and hygiene. Though, we have other projects that are also supporting the provision of water in addition to sanitation and hygiene.”
The project operated in two phases, with a hardware component that encompassed the rehabilitation of sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools and primary healthcare centers. The software component focused on a hygiene behavior change campaign, emphasizing five key hygiene behaviors, including menstrual hygiene.
Uwadiale elaborated on the menstrual hygiene aspect: “The project has been able to support in training the beneficiaries and their teachers. We had a training for the teachers on menstrual hygiene and health management. The teachers were trained on how to make reusable pads, and they were trained on how the children, or even girls and women in general, can maintain good hygiene management during their menstrual period.”
The impact of the sanitation and hygiene improvement facilities was evident as female pupils found increased comfort in attending school.
Mrs. Florence Adu, the Head Teacher of the school, took the opportunity to appeal to the LCDA chairman for further rehabilitation of the school. She highlighted the pressing need for repair, as many of the school’s buildings were unfit for human habitation.
Adu also expressed heartfelt gratitude to WaterAid and Kimberly Clark for their provision of hygiene improvement facilities. Urgent attention was called for in rehabilitating the school, with the deplorable state of classroom roofs posing a significant concern for the well-being of its students.
