Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Water and sanitation competitions; An effective approach for promoting sustainable WASH services in schools and communities

Abstract
Whilst several approaches have been undertaken to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, very little work has been carried out and documented on water and sanitation competitions. The use of WASH competitions is one of the effective and low cost approaches to improving WASH services both in schools and surrounding communities. This paper is based on practical experience from the recently conducted WASH competition in 52 targeted schools in Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo and Pader of Northern Uganda.

Introduction
Northern Uganda, where Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo and Pader are located is rebounding after 20 years of insurgency and civil war. With the return of peace, communities are rebuilding and embracing opportunities for growth and development. In regard to sanitation the rebuilding commenced with basic WASH facilities including pit latrines, rain water harvesting tanks (RWHTs), and drilling of Bore holes (BHs). A number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the government of Uganda provided a number of WASH facilities to the affected communities of Northern Uganda during the insurgency. However, the operation and maintenance (O&M) of these facilities is very poor with a number of bore holes non-functional, rain water harvesting tanks missing taps and gutters both in schools and communities and latrines missing doors for privacy, dirty with urine on the floor and open defecation surrounding the latrines (Namata 2015, MWE 2013). Most of the established School Health Clubs were not functional and some were completely dissolved (MWE 2011). The WASH activities were either not prioritized or not completely included in school development plans and budgets, which undermined all efforts by School Health Clubs to promote WASH activities. A School Health Club is a school management sub-committee that oversees health aspects for better health in the school.
WASH competition is one of the innovative approaches that can be used to promote best sanitation and hygiene practices as well as ensuring sustainable O&M of WASH services. It encourages competitors to work hard by improving areas agreed upon. WASH competitions in schools are done with the hope that pupils understand how this can contribute to a better and healthier lifestyle both at school and at home but more importantly apply it to their everyday lives (Sputnik 2015). Targeted schools must ensure that the school health clubs are functioning and remain active.  The competition is linked to the implementation of the school health club action plans which are built on three principles namely teachers, students and school management being engaged and supporting the functioning of the clubs and school WASH facilities; clubs engaging the entire school community for maximum coverage and impact; and clubs demonstrating change in key issues related to WASH.

WASH competitions can be organized for the targeted schools and communities after implementing a number of WASH activities such as awareness creation, trainings, construction works and training in operation and maintenance of WASH facilities.
There different categories/forms of competition for example poem writing best for grades 1 to 3 students (between 6-8 years), poster creation category good for grade 4 to 6 (9-11 years), essay writing category for form 1 and 2 students (between 13-16 years old), Folk song/Original composition and drama best for the school health club to pass on promotional WASH messages. The competition can be in form of proposal writing and the best can be funded for implementation and or marks awarded basing on day today O&M of WASH facilities. So depending on the time frame and what pressing need and expected participants, the organizers can decide on the different forms of competition.
In a bid to improve the operation and maintenance of the facilities therefore, Amref organized WASH competitions for the 52 targeted schools in Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo and Pader. The WASH competition came after an intense but fascinating implementation of a number of WASH activities including construction of pour flush toilets, drainable Ventilated Improved Pit Latrines (VIP), construction of ferro cement tanks in all targeted schools, formation and training of school health clubs, school management committees in operation and maintenance of WASH facilities.

Preparatory stage

Planning meetings
All targeted schools in the four districts were engaged in planning meetings to agree on the theme and criterion to guide the competition. Basing on the poor O&M of WASH facilities in schools, the theme “Sustainable Operation and Maintenance of all WASH facilities for good health and development” was chosen to guide the competition. Other criterion included all participating schools to fix non-functional WASH facilities, having active school health clubs with the goal to promote good health and hygiene practices in schools in order to create a positive environment for behavior change, particularly amongst learners and school staff and subsequently the surrounding communities.

Judging of the two forms of competition (the facilities and creative elements-poem and folk song) is done separately by different people with different skills). A panel of five judges from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health with experience in Music, Dance and Drama (MDD) were identified to judge the creative element of the competition. A school hygiene and sanitation monitoring tool was also developed to be used in targeted schools. The District Education Officers (DEOs), Inspectors of schools, Health Inspectors, Project staff are potential users of this form and each school is awarded marks basing on the O&M of their WASH facilities. For a school to get good marks, its WASH facilities (RWHT, latrines, Borehole, Hand washing facilities) must be functional and well maintained. 

Possible prizes were thought of to be won by good performing schools and outstanding students. Among the prizes were; A trophy for the best performing school, hand washing facilities, stainless tanks (250 litres for storage of drinking water), jerry cans, basins, T-shirts with WASH promotional messages and plates and cups. It was during the planning meetings that participants grouped the prizes to be won by the overall winning school, second and third performing school and the outstanding students. In this case, the overall winner was meant to walk away with a trophy, a 250 litres stainless tank and a bull. The second run up to walk away with a 250 litres stainless tank and a goat while outstanding students and their teachers to receive t-shirts, jerry cans or basins.

Methodology
52 targeted schools were purposively selected to participate in the competition. The competitions were based on the theme “Sustainable Operation and Maintenance of all WASH facilities for good health and development”. Onsite school WASH assessment (through direct observation on the status of latrines, functionality of Rain Water Harvesting Tanks (RWHTs), Bore holes (BH)s, general cleanliness of the school compound and classes were carried out on a monthly basis for a period of 6 months. General performance by members of School Health Clubs (SHCs) through music, dance and drama were also used to pass on information and marks were awarded accordingly.

Implementation stage
School management committees actively participated by mobilizing resources from parents and fixed non-functional facilities. Facilities fixed included; the rain water harvesting tanks fixed with gutters and missing taps, boreholes fixed and fenced off. School health club members together with their patrons and teachers in charge of MDD were very instrumental in composing poems and folk songs full of WASH promotional messages, making presentations and marks awarded accordingly by a panel of judges.


The DEO and Inspectors of schools have been very responsive and positive towards the competition. They actively participated in the assessment and monitoring of school WASH activities. The whole exercise turned a very successful educational and awareness competition.

Results
Vanguard Primary school in Gulu Municipality emerged the overall winner with 192 marks (92 being scored in the day today O&M of their WASH facilities) followed by Pece primary school with 189 marks. In Kitgum Town Council, Kitgum Prison Primary emerged the best, while Mad Kloch being the best performing school in Agago District. All the best performing schools and outstanding students were awarded with different categories of prizes ranging from a trophy, stainless tanks for storage of drinking water, t-shirts, jerry cans, basins and plates and cups.

School health clubs (52) have been strengthened and actively promoting WASH best practices in schools and in surrounding communities through health parades, music, dance and drama and through radio talk shows. This has led to improvement in personal hygiene of pupils with 89% of the total (enrolment) pupils washing hands with water and soap especially after toilet use. Improvement in terms of hand washing was measured by the presence of hand washing facilities, availability of water and soap and through progress reports from targeted school. This paper is a follow up of the findings from selected schools in Northern Uganda presented in a paper entitled “Achieving sustainable O&M of WASH facilities that indicated that thirty-two percent (32%) of the visited schools had hand washing facilities close to the toilet facilities but only 9% of these had water for hand washing and only 4% had soap. Shortage of water, absence of hand washing facilities and low awareness on the importance of hand washing was cited as major factors hindering majority of schools from practicing hand washing. This was the basis for putting more emphasis on hand washing leading to 85% of the targeted schools fixing their hand washing facilities, filling them with water and soap and reminding students to wash their hands especially after toilet and before eating.
School management committees (SMCs) (52) strengthened and are more involved in school WASH activities especially through encouraging parents to contribute to operation and maintenance fund for WASH facilities (UGX 1000/= per head/pupil), inspecting use of WASH facilities. As a result, broken doors have been fixed and thirty-eight (38) rain water harvesting tanks have been re-fixed with missing gutters and taps. As a result, schools are able to harvest and store enough water for general cleaning and cooking. This has also resulted into increased hand washing by pupils due to the availability of water.
Additional WASH facilities for example 55 hand washing facilities, wash rooms constructed and renovation of existing latrines done using the O&M fund created by active SMCs. This has led to reduced pupil stance ratios from 90:1 to 40:1 & 50:1 in most of the targeted schools. Pupil stance ratio refers to the number of pupils in the school divided by the total number of latrine stances in the school. Detergents (soap, toilet papers) are being bought for cleaning of latrines.
In addition, schools with active SMCs 49 out of the 52 (91%) targeted schools have recruited caretakers to ensure good operation and maintenance of WASH facilities. As a result, there is general cleanliness of the toilets throughout the day, no breakage of latrine doors or piercing of hand washing facilities by pupils as the care taker also acts as watch dogs for these facilities. Piercing of hand washing facilities is where by students use sharp objects like nails, stones, needles to open a hole in the hand facility.  
A total of 22 out of 28 (79%) boreholes within/surrounding the targeted schools have been fenced off. This has improved on the general cleanliness of the boreholes surroundings as well as ensuring good operation and maintenance of the facility.
Targeted schools 45 out of 52 have turned into exchange learning centers. For example, Vanguard P/S in Gulu and Kitgum Prison School hosting ministers from Southern Sudan, SMCs/PTAs from other schools and Local leaders for learning purposes. Pece Primary School and Vanguard Primary School have hosted Kawempe Division local leaders including councilors and technical staff for a learning visit on the good O&M of their WASH facilities.
There is reported increase in the school enrollment across all the targeted schools for example Kitgum Prison Primary School enrollment has increased from 731 by 2013 to 990 (with 521 girls) as of June 2015. This is partly due to improved sanitation facilities in the school that has encouraged children especially the girls stay in school during their menstrual periods. The focus group discussion meetings held with girls and senior women teachers revealed this.
Lessons Learnt/Recommendations
· Greater impacts of school WASH is realized and sustained when the activities target both schools and surrounding communities and this facilitates cost sharing with key stakeholders including partners.
·Early engagement of all stakeholders makes decisions faster and smoother thus activity implementation is much easier.
Conclusion
Onsite school WASH assessment which is phase one of the WASH competition greatly influences SMCs/PTAs and teachers to improve on operation and maintenance of the water and sanitation facilities to earn better marks while phase two of general presentations promotes more of behavior change to a wider coverage. Based on the above, WASH competition approach should be used to promote sustainable WASH services




Wednesday, May 6, 2015

OYERA VILLAGE REJOICING FOR IMPROVED ACCESS TO SAFE WATER IN THEIR VILLAGE



I used to spend 3hr a day collecting 3 jerry cans of water from 3 km away my home (as narrated by Adio Baveto 34 year old). This water was not enough for my home including my animals. My animals used to get scattered to look for water anywhere they would get it. In the process, they would destroy people’s gardens. This would result into serious misunderstandings and quarreling with fellow village members almost on a daily basis. Sometimes, we would use water from Pagada River as it was nearer and no waiting time wasted as it was the case in the neighboring village. However this was not safe and on many occasions, my children complained of stomach pain and diarrhea.

Amref Health Africa came as our savior. Having assessed our WASH situation, they first sensitized us about what we were required to do before getting a water point. This necessitated all HHs having toilets, and the capital contribution of UGX 200,000/=. We raised the money and those who never had latrines started digging pits and putting structures. 




                                                         Water source used before the project

                                                     Scooping water from small halls (we thought it was safer)

Majority of the village members positively supported construction works by giving food to contractors, supervision, collecting poles and fencing off the borehole.
The Water User Committee (WUC) was established and trained. This helped much in formulating guiding bye laws, and collecting water user fees (UGX 1000 per HH). Well-wishers clean the bore hole on a daily basis as we want to maintain it clean all times. I am able to collect more than 6 jerry cans a day without wasting much time. This water is enough for our domestic use including animals. It even saved me from the misunderstandings that would develop due to my animals encroaching on neighbours gardens as they looked for water. 

Adio is a famer and a brick maker. “I have benefited more from this water source. My family member collects enough water for use at home and I collect more water for making my bricks here. So far I have made 10,000 bricks and am still making more. Each brick will go for UGX 200 and once I sell my bricks, I will contribute more UGX 10,000 (equivalent to USD 4) to the maintenance fund for this borehole. We will ensure its good operation and maintenance and we consider this water point 100% for the people of Oyera village not for Amref because it is benefiting us (said by Patric).

Neighboring village members all collect water from the same source. Our plan is to list these HHs and collect water user fees from them. This will help us during any breakage/repair.
We sincerely thank Amref Health Africa for constructing this water point to the people of Oyera Village and surrounding community members. 

COMMAMORATING WORLD WATER DAY IN KITGUM DISTRICT



With 83% water coverage to date, it was worth commemorating World Water Day in Kitgum District. Kitgum District has had steady increase in her water coverage from 52% in 2011 to 83% to date reported by the District Water Officer Mr. Oryem Peter. This has been due to the joint efforts by the district local government, development partners, communities and the committed Ministry of Water and Environment to ensure availability of water especially to the affected communities.
The day started with a joyful match by school children, women groups, Village Health teams, partners, local leaders joined Kitgum District Local Government to commemorate World Water Day on 01/4/2015 at Rayamo Sub County Obem Primary school in Kitgum District.


Matching to commemorate WWD

The Days Theme “A Good toilet is a family Pride” “Water for sustainable development”; suited well the communities of Kitgum District. Water and sanitation complements each other and it is not optional for a household not to have a latrine said by Mr. Oryema.
Mr. Godfrey Byalugaba from DWD/TSU-Lira thanked people of Kitgum and the committed development partners and Kitgum district local government for the increasing water coverage 83%. He however expressed concern on the high non functionality rate of 50% commenting that if there was good O&M, coverage would almost be 100% in Kitgum. 

Even though many important people including politicians and non-politicians who can speak for more than an hour attended, the commemoration comprised more of school children and community members passing on information though music, dance and drama save for the welcome remarks from area local council 1, brief speeches from the DWO, representative from the Ministry of water and environment and the guest of honour.


Songs and drama with WASH messages on how an ideal homestead should look, proper operation and maintenance of water points, sanitation facilities, proper handling of food and appreciation for ODF status were presented by the communities.

I was very impressed by Kitgum Demonstration Primary school children who exhibited their artwork of a model household (HH latrine with a tippy tap, bathing shelter, drying rack, and trees) displayed during the celebration. The art work used clearly tells their understanding of the importance of a latrine and hand washing.

                                                                             Artwork of a model HH

In his speech, the guest of honor Mr. Amuti the acting RDC called upon people to develop a sense of ownership and commitment in ensuring good operation and maintenance of the water facilities. Siting the low latrine coverage of 40%, he advised those without a latrine to go back and dig and construct latrines since a “good latrine is a family’s pride”. 
The day was crowned by awarding certificates of recognition to outstanding performing partner organizations that included Amref, World Vision, National water and Sewerage Corporation and Caritas, handing over completed facilities to respective schools and communities, hand over gifts to the 06 villages (Pali, Akado, Labworomor, Ocettoke North and Pagen West) that were declared Open Defecation Free (ODF).




Handover of gifts by guest of honor

COMMEMORATING WORD WATER DAY 2015 IN GULU DISTRICT



The 2015 World Water Day came at a time when the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are being assessed. According to the sector performance report 2013, there has been an increased access to safe water to 70% of the population in urban areas and to 64% of the population in the rural areas. The country-wide household latrine coverage has also improved from 69.6% 9 to 71%, while hand washing with soap after latrine usage has improved from the 27% to 29% (Water and Environment Sector Report 20013). Gulu Water coverage stands at 75%, sanitation at 64% and hand washing being at 24% as reported by Mr. Ongom Robert (Assistant District Water Officer in charge of Health).

Although there has been great improvement towards improving access to water and sanitation coverage in Gulu, sustainability remains an issue. Amref Health Africa-Uganda recognizes this challenge and is working towards increasing the functionality of water infrastructures in all her operating areas. To mark the World Water Day on March 22nd, Amref joined Gulu District Local government and other stakeholders to celebrate the achievements at Kauda Ground in Gulu Municipality.
The function begun with a joyful matching of school children, teachers, local leaders and community members from various divisions with support from Police (Traffic Officers) who ensured safety of the participants during the match and celebration.



                                                            During a joyful matching on 22/3/15 in Gulu District

The World Water Day theme “Water for Sustainable Development” well suited the commemoration and all participants including the partner organizations, community members, children and local leaders were urged to act responsibly towards ensuring good operation and maintenance of water facilities for sustainable development.
Mr. Ojala Martin (LCV) and the chief guest recognized partners for joint efforts towards commemoration of the WWD and their great contribution towards increasing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene in the district. He appealed to partners to consider supporting the district by constructing public latrines at different spots including markets as the situation is alarming. He also tasked the responsible offices in the district to demolish all filthy toilet structures in the municipality.
The key partners who jointly supported district in the organization of the WWD included NWSC, Amref, World Vision, JICA, CLEAR WATER and Baptist Drilling Company. These were also given an opportunity to exhibit some of their works and technologies being implemented. 

Pupils pumping water from a simply designed borehole from plastic bottles at JICA exhibition Stall 

Pupils show cased best WASH practices in pictorial form
The function was graced with educative songs and drama from various schools mainly supported by Amref all highlighting the importance of safe water, sanitation and hygiene in relation to day today life and their performance in schools. They also educated participants on WASH best practices and thanked the government and development partners for all the programs being implemented in their schools and Gulu district at large that are aimed at improving access to health, water, sanitation and hygiene among others.
Pupils from Kirombe P/S joined by guests on stage in their tradition dance presentation

The Guest of honor also recognized key partners and individuals for the outstanding support to Gulu District Local Government towards the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services for the financial year 2014/2015. These included Amref, NWSC, World Vision and JICA.

                                              Amref Staff receiving a certificate of outstanding support from the guest of honor 

Side events included free counseling and testing for HIV Aids that attracted many youth, men and women during the WWD commemoration.

Although there has been great improvement in increasing access to water in Gulu, some communities still spends more than 30 minutes lining for water.

Amref Health Africa spearheaded the mobilization and supported the WWD commemoration with a brass band from St Morit P/S, Radio talk show and spot messages, facilitated 20 schools to participate (transport, snacks and refreshments) facilitated Health Inspectors for field visits (assessing schools performance towards Operation and maintenance of WASH facilities (fuel and SDA). This is in addition to the facilitation made to 5 health workers who conducted outreach activities during the commemoration.  


It was a successful commemoration with everybody happy and dancing throughout the day.