World Vision launches School's Sanitation Solution Challenge

World Vision launches School's Sanitation Solution Challenge

World Vision has launched a Schools Sanitation Solution challenge to encourage students to write an open letter to the President of the Republic of Ghana and to identify a major sanitation problem in their schools or communities.

Triple S, as it has been christened is open to all students in the country from primary four up to Junior High 2. Among others, students who enter the competition are expected to describe how the problem of sanitation is adversely affecting teaching and learning and discuss proposals for addressing it in a sustainable manner. The contest, expected to run between, October 1,2019 to September 30, 2020, would have 10 participants shortlisted and rewarded with prizes including; plaques, cash prizes, mobile phone tablets, and certificates.

The overall winner would be unveiled as a "Child Sanitation Ambassador" and supported to spearhead sanitation development projects.Mr Yaw Atta Arhin, the WASH Technical Coordinator, World Vision Ghana, said the objective for the challenge was to influence children to become sanitation conscious and agents of change.Other objectives were to challenge children to co-create sustainable solutions to local sanitation challenges, advocate the removal of barriers and access to safe water and improved sanitation in schools.

Dr Doris Yaa Dartey, the Patron of MCODe, who chaired the launch, said a recent sanitation challenge by the IRC and its partners for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies has made people conscious of proper sanitation especially liquid waste management, hence the need to re-introduce more of such initiatives.She urged children to develop interest in promoting good sanitation practices, saying: "When Ghana gets its sanitation right, all other things would be right."

Ms Ellen Gyekye, the Programme Officer of the School Health Education Programme Unit, Ghana Education Service, said some children were motivated to attend school because of access to improved water, toilet and hand washing facilities.She said although some schools had improved toilet facilities, they were poorly maintained and advised authorities to take care of the facilities. She encouraged children, especially those who would contest in the challenge, to develop practical solutions to improve WASH in schools and communities.