WASH: UK Foundation Takes Campaign To Borno, Yobe Schools

To enhance safe practices around Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) among students in North East schools, Jose Foundation UK, an independent child-centred not-for-profit organisation, has commenced sensitisation campaign targeting secondary schools in Borno State

In a statement signed by its president, Dr Martins Abhulimhen, Jose Foundation UK said it is committed to eradicating extreme poverty, advancing children’s rights, and ensuring girl child equality across the globe.

The statement noted that the foundation is currently implementing a global sensitisation aimed at creating awareness and ensuring safe practices around Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in a bid to address the global pandemic arising from COVID-19.

In Borno State, the organisation held the sensitisation programme at Muhammadu Buhari Academy, a mega boarding school in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) where students were sensitised on the symptoms of COVID-19 and the prevention measures to observe within and outside their learning environment.

The statement read: “The first phase of the global sensitisation campaign targets public schools to ensure children are aware of, and equipped with the basic knowledge to protect themselves from the coronavirus and also carry-out the basic WASH practices to stay safe.

“The organisation observed that during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, government enforced closure of schools in an attempt to reduce the spread of the disease. Schools in fragile contexts remain at particular risk of not
re-opening, or re-opening with inadequate sanitation facilities and psychosocial support for students. Studies have also shown that girls are less likely to return to school after a period of absence, especially girls in conflict affected regions.

“Even though the wave of the pandemic has reduced, and government have relaxed the restrictions, an assessment conducted by Jose Foundation UK programme team in the Northeast shows poor or non-adherence to basic COVID-19 prevention measures especially within public schools.

“It is on this premise that the Foundation has not relented in its efforts to ensure that children, especially girls in Northeast Nigeria are supported with the necessary COVID-19 awareness and prevention and basic Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sensitization to ensure that they stay safe and protected within their learning environment.”

The foundation further stated that the sensitisation campaign seeks to address the poor prevention practices observed across some Government schools in conflict affected North-eastern States of Borno and Yobe as
regards to COVID-19 prevention and general Water, Sanitation and Hygiene practices.