Improving Health and Hygiene for Students in Malawi
Orant’s WASH impact in Malawi
Sanitation and hygiene status of schools in Malawi
WaterAid reports that the status of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in most schools in Malawi remains unacceptable. Some schools still don’t have sanitation facilities and less than 5% of schools provide handwashing facilities with soap.
Our WASH program aims at improving this by providing sanitation materials, constructing toilets and drilling water wells, thereby enhancing the health and well-being of communities, including students in numerous schools.
How students are affected by poor sanitation
“We understand that hygiene and sanitation greatly affect pupils’ school performance and their well-being at large. Thus, we put our best efforts to create a conducive environment for learners to excel in their studies,” says WASH program manager, Mayamiko Mwenda.
His sentiments are shared by Wilson Ndeule, a student at Chinguwi Primary School, where, not so long ago, there was only one bucket for hand washing for the entire school.
“Lack of sanitation materials such as buckets for washing hands, moppers and brushes exposes learners to diseases such as cholera. This, in turn, affects learners’ performance as they continuously miss classes,” Wilson says.
How Orant is improving health and hygiene for students in Malawi
Amidst the cholera outbreak and rainy season in Malawi, Orant has begun distributing hygiene and sanitation materials in primary schools around the Katalima zone. This includes moppers, mopping buckets, handwashing buckets, squeegees and brushes.
“I am so grateful to donors for supporting the Katalima zone which has about 6700 students. This donation has come at a time when it is needed the most, as the country is battling a cholera outbreak which has killed over 1600 people since March 2022,” says Christina Chizungule, the Primary Education Advisor (PEA) for Katalima Zone.
Orant’s Water and Sanitation program makes a significant impact
Orant is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of vulnerable students in Malawi. Through the Water and Sanitation program, we are making a significant impact in the lives of learners.
We believe that every human being deserves access to clean water and proper sanitation. Join us in making a difference in the lives of Malawians! With your help, we can continue to make a positive impact in our community. Read more about our WASH Program and click here if you would like to support our work.
