Back to school: Young children most at risk from lack of water, sanitation and hygiene in schools
As families around the globe pack their bags and prepare for the school run, WaterAid has released a new photo gallery to reflect the vital importance of access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene upon child’s education.
The images highlight the findings of a new report – Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools: Global baseline report 2018 released this week by UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
The photo collection features stories that show the transformational effect that water, sanitation and hygiene can have on schoolchildren around the world. It tells the very real story of children who are now able to get an education as a result of gaining access to clean water and toilets; as well as the stark contrast of those who are still living without, often missing school or dropping out altogether.
Whilst facilities in schools around the world are slowly improving, younger children are disproportionately affected at a time that is key to their development, with one in three primary schools lacking clean water or decent toilets. One in four secondary schools also lack these basic facilities.
The report confirms that 31% of schools do not have access to clean drinking water (affecting 570 million children), and 34% of all schools do not have decent toilets (for 620 million children). 900 million children lack good hygiene facilities, which are absent in nearly half of all schools (47%).
With the introduction of clean water close to home and at school, children have more time to study. Pupils can stay healthy and hydrated, and able to concentrate in class. With decent toilets, girls on their period have a clean, private place to go, keeping them in school; and with good hygiene, like handwashing with soap, children can help their families and friends avoid diseases too. Healthy children have time for school and for play.
Jean, 13, from Madagascar, now has water and toilets in his school. He said:
“I used to collect dirty water for as long as I can remember, but now villagers, teachers and pupils are no longer suffering because we have clean water and a nice toilet block. I am responsible for helping look after the school’s water, sanitation and hygiene facilities; that’s why they call me ‘President’.”
Girls often skip school when they start their period, if there are no decent toilets or space to wash themselves and stay clean and healthy. A recent WaterAid and Unicef report shows that as many as 1 in 3 girls in South Asia are missing school days every month, in part due to inadequate toilet facilities.
Batamba, 12, from Uganda, said:
“When a school has clean toilets, water nearby and supportive teachers, this helps to keep girls in school because they do not have to miss classes in search for decent and private sanitation facilities or water to use during periods. I’m proud of my school because it’s clean and has enough toilets for girls. As girls we are very happy that we can get water from the tank to clean ourselves during menstrual periods or for washing hands after using the toilet”.
Drinking dirty water causes sickness, which can be deadly, with 800 children under five dying ever day due to diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. Even if children recover, they still miss valuable school-time.
Tim Wainwright, Chief Executive at WaterAid, said:
“Children all over the world have dreams about what they will be when they grow up, but without access to water and sanitation in schools as well as at home, many children do not get a fair chance at reaching their full potential.
It is clear that, without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, we cannot achieve many of the sustainable development goals: quality education for all, gender equality, and universal good health and well-being by 2030. To fulfil these promises, integrating these services into the development agenda is crucial. While progress has already been made, there’s still so much more we need to do.
WaterAid is working towards a world where all children have access to clean water and decent toilets at home and at schools to ensure everyone has the chance to realise their dreams.”
In July, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, following high-level meetings at the United Nations in New York. At current rates of progress, the world is still woefully behind the target to provide clean water and decent sanitation for everyone, everywhere by 2030, which is fundamental to almost every area of development and to achieving the SDGs.
For more information, please visit www.wateraid.org/uk/
ENDS
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+44 (0)207 793 5005
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Notes to Editors:
WaterAid
WaterAid’s vision is of a world where everyone has access to clean water and sanitation. The international not-for-profit organisation works in 34 countries to change the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 25.8 million people with clean water and 25.1 million people with decent toilets. For more information, visit www.wateraid.org/uk, follow @WaterAidUK or @WaterAidPress on Twitter, or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wateraid.
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844 million people in the world – one in nine – do not have clean water close to home.[1]
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2.3 billion people in the world – almost one in three – do not have a decent toilet of their own.[2]
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Around 289,000 children under five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. That's almost 800 children a day, or one child every two minutes.[3]
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Every £1 invested in water and toilets returns an average of £4 in increased productivity.[4]
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Just £24 can provide one person with clean water.[5]
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To find out if countries are keeping their promises on water and sanitation, see the online database www.WASHwatch.org
[1] WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2017 update and SDG Baselines
[2] WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2017 update and SDG Baselines
[3] washwatch.org
[4] World Health organization (2012) Global costs and benefits of drinking-water supply and sanitation interventions to reach the MDG target and universal coverage
