Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (WASH) Media Network Bauchi state has urged the Bauchi state government to ensure safe water in schools and health facilities for proper hygiene.
The state chairman of the group, Mr David Ayodele, made the call in a statement to mark 2020 World Water Day made available Sunday in Bauchi.
He stated the need for the government to ensure safe water supply and sanitation in schools and health facilities to reduce the cases of diarrhoea, adding that it also encourages the development of healthy behaviours for life.
“WASH in Schools not only promotes hygiene and increases access to quality education.
“Poor sanitation, water scarcity, inferior water quality and inappropriate hygiene behaviour are disastrous for infants and young children and they are a major cause of mortality for children under five,” he said.
He stated that those conditions are also detrimental to the health of school-aged children, who spend long hours in schools.
He said the physical environment and cleanliness of a school facility can significantly affect the health and well-being of children.
Ayodele noted that disease spreads quickly in cramped spaces with limited ventilation, where hand-washing facilities or soap are not available.
He added that where toilets are in disrepair, schools are often places where children become ill. (NAN)
