School gets water after two decades

School dropout among girl learners at Chigolo Primary school in the area of Traditional Authority Bibi Kuluunda in Salima is expected to come to an end after Assemblies of God (AG) Care sunk a borehole and constructed modern latrines.

The borehole and two latrines with change rooms for girls have been constructed with funds from International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) through Malawi Environment Health Association (MEHA).

Chigolo Primary school has been without safe water for decades, a situation that has made life hard for both teachers and learners

School health and Nutrition Coordinator, Moffat Makuluni said lack of good water points and toilets in schools affects school attendance by both girls and boys.

“Surveys have shown that lack of good toilets, and change rooms contributes to school drop-out among girls in the senior primary school classes, so we are happy that AG Care has come with this important support,” said Makuluni.

Speaking after handing over the facilities, AG Care Executive Director, John Kanthungo asked the community around the school to take good care of the water point and the toilets.

One of the girl learners at the school, Tupere Selemani said it has been a challenge for adolescent girls during menstruation period to actively attend classes, because of lack of toilets that have a change room.
“We are thankful to AG Care and their partners for the donation. I am sure, now girls will come to school without any worries and that they will start performing better in class,” said Selemani.

Principal Environmental Health Officer (PEHO) Temwa Mzengeza said the structures should be utilized by learners.

Mzengeza appealed to parents to support girl children with sanitary needs sourced locally or from shops.

Written by  Watson Maingo from Mana Online (Malawi News Agency)