The implementation team of the wash component of the project to promote access to nutrition, water, hygiene and sanitation services for people affected by the security crisis in the region du Nord organized workshops to capitalize on the achievements in Ouahigouya, Yako and Gourcy on May 24 and 25, 2023, in order to get to grips with the realities of project implementation.
Water, hygiene and sanitation issues are major concerns in schools.
In the North region, with the security crisis and the influx of internally displaced persons in recent years, the increase in staff numbers has made water, hygiene and sanitation issues more delicate.
The strong pressure on water poses problems of cohabitation within the communities.
Thanks to the project to promote access to nutrition, water, hygiene and sanitation services for people affected by the security crisis in the North region, 15 schools and 7 dialogue and management of water points in Zondoma, Passoré and Yatenga were invited to develop initiatives to raise awareness of the concern.
To this end, they have organized educational talks, sanitation activities, sessions to make hygienic menstruation management kits, for the benefit of students and the community.
In less than two months, more than 176 activities, i.e. 127 in schools and 49 in community settings, have been carried out by schools and members of Management Centers (CDGs) in Ouahigouya, Gourcy, Yako and Séguénéga on a forecast of 50 activities.
These results were hailed by the head of the education department, in terms of population and citizenship, Augustin Sawadogo.
“The project has contributed to positively changing habits such as the automatic use of hand washing before meals and after bowel movements, regular cleaning of the schoolyard, washing of latrines. There is also an improvement in the bodily and clothing cleanliness of the learners,” said the director of the Basnéré school in Ouahigouya, Aïssata Diallo.
In the community, the project has brought about behavioral changes.
According to the member of the cell of dialogue and management of the water points of Tamsin, Oumarou Ouédraogo, a woman came to show her gratitude following the sensitizations which enabled her to improve hygiene in her household.
In the schools, the teachers were very engaged and the students receptive to the messages. Changes were visible both in schools and in communities.
Students have started to integrate good practices including hand washing and the use of latrines.
“In the communities, the people were also very receptive to the different messages,” said Rencheri, the project supervisor, Bintou Boro.
The project is implemented in the provinces of Yatenga, Zondoma and Passoré by the EDUCO-AMMIE-ATL consortium with the support of the Regional Humanitarian Fund for West and Central Africa (FHRAOC).
Source: Burkina Information Agency