Pikin Organisation takes sanitation to primary schools

Politics

An indigenous Non Governmental Organization, ‘Pikin-to-Pikin Movement’ has concluded the training of 120 (one hundred and twenty) School Health Club members and 160 (one hundred and sixty) School Sanitation Hygiene Promoters of ten community primary schools in the Bombali district, north of Sierra Leone. The training which is aimed at empowering community schools in taking very active roles in the reduction of the incidences and impacts of water and excreta related diseases among primary school pupils at remote communities, and to improve enrolment, retention and completion rates of boys and girls in primary education in the Bombali district. The regional coordinator of ‘Pikin-to-Pikin Movement, Mustapha Swaray, when giving the background of their organization said the organisation was established in 1994 by group of volunteers that have passion and concerned with the plight of children in the country. Mr. Swaray went on that, they registered their organisation in 1998 and that they are presently operating in five districts across the country. The Coordinator said ‘Pikin-to-Pikin Movement’ in partnership with UNICEF, Plan S/L, Concern World Wide and Child-to-Child Trust, UK are presently working on various projects that are geared towards child survival, development, protection and participation in their operational districts. Mr. Swaray said they have targeted ten schools in Libeisaygahun Chiefdom in the Bombali district with an objective of ensuring that by end of 2012, those community schools have access to sustainable safe water supply and improved sanitation in their premises, operated and maintain by their schools management committees in coordination with the already trained health club members and sanitation hygiene promoters. One of the beneficiary School Sanitation Hygiene Promoters in the Bombali District Education Community School in Matoto village Libeisaygahun chiefdom, Adamasay Kabia thank ‘Pikin-to-Pikin Movement’ for taking health related programme into their various community. Miss. Adamasay Kabia pointed out that, before the commencement of the training health issues was not giving due consideration especially in managing their drinking water, waste disposal among other hygienic issues. But thank the organisation management for considering them and pledged their total commitment towards ensuring that, the overall objective of the project is achieve. Locals from other communities appealed with the organisation for extension of their health and sanitation programme to their communities noting that, what they have observed during the training from the selected topics and presentation they will be more than happy to be part of the process. In his words of encouragement to the people, the Regional Coordinator for ‘Pikin-to-Pikin Movement’ Mustapha Swaray pointed out that, his organisation is working closely with UNICEF in a bid to advocate with the education for positive hygiene practices to incorporate it in the school curriculum. By Mohamed Kabba

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