Bearing the Brunt of unsafe drinking water in schools

According to the 2005 report on school health in Uganda by the ministries of health and education, less than 50% of boarding schools in Uganda provide boiled or chlorinated water for drinking. Statistics further reveal that only 46% of schools in the country have safe water supply sources in form of piped water, borehole and protected springs within the school compound. This report, says, leaves the majority of children to fend for themselves by drinking water from unprotected sources.

Global statistics also show that children in Sub-Saharan Africa are the most deprived. Only 57% of children are drinking safe water, according to the United Nation’s agency (UNICEF).

Some schools say that it is hard to meet the demand for every child in the school. “I think that is their (students/pupils) responsibility”. High and medium income earners who have their children in better schools resorted to buying bottled water for their children. A five-litre bottle of mineral water costs about sh 4500/=, while a carton of 24 bottles of 500ml is at sh 11000/= in retail shops. This implies that if a parent has to provide this amount at least twice a term, they would spend about sh 22000 to sh 30, 0000/= per term on water. Poor parents having their children in UPE schools where water and sanitation facilities are worse can not afford buying mineral water. Mr. Kakooza (a parent) said that “I spend between UGX 5000-20,000 treating my children every month. Every week, there is a child suffering from malaria or diarrhea. All these attributed to drinking unsafe water.

I humbly call upon the ministries of water, health and education should work together and bring safe water to schools.