WASH (or Watsan, WaSH) is an acronym that stands for “water, sanitation and hygiene”. Universal, affordable and sustainable access to WASH is a key public health issue within international development and is the focus of Sustainable Development Goal.
Access to WASH includes safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene education. This can reduce illness and death, and also reduce poverty and improve socio-economic development.
According to World Health Organization (2015), Lack of sanitation contributes to about 700,000 child deaths every year due to diarrhea, mainly in developing countries. Chronic diarrhea can have long-term negative effects on children, in terms of both physical and cognitive development. In addition, lack of WASH facilities can prevent students from attending school, impose an unusual burden on women and reduce work productivity.
Securecycle Environmental and Climate Change Initiative SECCi works on securing & protecting the environment, through training, advocacy and hands on projects in an effort to build a sustainable society.
With this well defined course in mind, Securecycle is organizing her first edition of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) campaign tagged: O’WASH Campaign 2019 (Ogun State Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Campaign 2019). This is to sensitize pupils in 50 schools in Ogun State about the importance of water, good sanitation and proper hygiene. This is to build children and youth and give them proper foundation in water management, clean environment, health and hygiene.
As a pilot, Bode Ijaye Primary School, Iyana Mortuary, Abeokuta pupils were the first to receive this advocacy from Securecycle, the volunteer team reached out to them while on the assembly where they engaged on proper methods of hand washing, importance of hygiene and sanitation.
Furthermore, on the second count BOD Foundation International School, Ogbe Abeokuta Ogun State, a school own by the Olori Rukayyat the Queen of Owu Kingdom where she gave the team a hearty welcome, received the team with open hands and encourage the team to do more..
However, the team would be reaching out to 48 more schools as stated in the agenda with the aim of carrying as much as possible along.
Securecycle would love to use this medium to inform the public especially parents on the importance of hygiene, and proper sanitation. Stocked up drainages, improper waste disposal, dropping of refuse by road side among others are things that are not beneficial to the society. Another call goes to the Ministry of Environment as it is noted that the waste generated in schools are being burnt thereby emitting harmful substance into the atmosphere around the school. The need of building a sustainable society where all hands are on deck is crucial at this very moment and Together we can make the change we truly clamour for.
