The challenge facing our public schools is water and hygiene

The state of the only pit latrines serving Magombe primary school in, Siaya county in a picture taken on October 04,2016. Lack of sanitation amenities has pushed boys to use the torn iron sheet walled structure to releave self. (Photo: Denish Ochieng/ Standard)

Sanitation is still a challenge in Kenya, what are the current short falls?

Some of the challenges in the sector include financing and legal. The question is whether the sector or counties are able to attract different sources of funding due to the existence of limiting institutional frameworks for financial transactions to take place.

The budget allocation to water and sanitation is just 0.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. Public and private institutions at all levels must have the capacity to carry out their roles and responsibilities for effective Water Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) service delivery at scale.

How many children below the age of five are losing their lives due to poor sanitation?

88 per cent of all cases of diarrhea globally are attributable to water, sanitation and hygiene. Diarrhea caused the death of around 24,000 children under the age of five in Kenya in 2008. Under age five diarrhea prevalence is at 17 per cent in Kenya, and higher among poorer households.

 Infant mortality rate is 39 deaths per 1,000 live births and under-five mortality rate is 52 deaths per 1,000 live births; according to the Kenya Health and Demographic Survey (KDHS 2014).

Which areas in Kenya are rampant for communicable diseases associated with lack of proper sanitation?

In the recent past, cholera outbreak affected more than half of all the counties in Kenya. Nyanza, Central and North Eastern regions were mostly affected by the 2014 outbreaks.

What is the status of sanitation and water in Kenya schools?

Over 80 per cent of schools in Kenya have basic sanitation facilities. Health centers without basic hygiene stand at 42 per cent, and 2 per cent lack sanitation facilities.

What is the Ministry of Health doing to ensure schools have proper sanitation?

The national government is offering technical assistance to counties. One of the ways is the establishment of school WASH technical working groups, as well as, reviewing the school WASH policies (2009 Policies & Guidelines).

How safe are school feeding programmes; bearing in mind the water and sanitation challenges?

The counties are working as a team to ensure that there is access of water in schools. Through the capitation programme, schools and parents associations are working together to improve sanitation services in schools with the support of environmental health officers in counties.

Some schools lack enough toilets, how widespread is this problem in Kenya and what are you doing about it?

We are revising our policies and guidelines at the national level while counties are putting resources in the school infrastructure. Schools have also roped in PTAs and partners to support in this endeavour. Advocacy of improved sanitation and hygiene through global hand wash days are also being used.

 

Sanitation and water go hand in hand; do we have enough clean drinking water in Kenya?

We do not have enough safe access to drinking water in Kenya;

Kenya’s water safety monitoring and surveillance efforts are below recommended World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. This explains the frequent waterborne disease outbreaks such as cholera that continue to be a major health challenge in the country.

 Urban areas have 65 per cent of access to improved water sources while it is only 49 per cent in rural areas; making a national average of 55 per cent. Urban water coverage has declined.

How far is Kenya from eliminating common communicable diseases due to sanitation?

Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals for sanitation will take more than 100 years at current rate of progress.

Are there any specific programmes that you are running in schools to ensure proper sanitation?

Counties implement schools WASH with support of partners and national government campaigns.

NGOs have been at the forefront in ensuring proper sanitation, is the department abdicating its duties?

NO. The Government is leading by giving the NGOs an enabling environment through development of policies and strategies. NGOs align themselves to Government strategies and leadership.

Is there any strategic plan that will ensure water and sanitation is not an issue of discussion a few years from now?

Yes, there are: Kenya Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene strategic Policy 2016-2030; Kenya Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene strategic framework 2016-2020; ODF Road Map 2016-2020; County Sanitation & Hygiene Prototype Bill;

 National Water Policy of 1999 that culminated in Water Act 2002; and the Draft Water Policy of 2012 that informed formulation of Water Bill, 2014 and the current Water Act, 2016. Others are the Water Sector Plan and Strategic Plan 2013-2017 (under implementation); National Water Quality Management Strategy 2012-2016; and National Water Master Plan 2030.