GIRLS MISS CLASSES AT KAMASASA PRIMARY SCHOOL

Kamasasa primary school is a government aided school in Karambi sub –county Kasese district Bordering with DR Congo.Kamasasa primary school is among the schools with a highest enrollment in Kasese district of   2082 pupils ( 1108 females  and 974 males) with an enrollment of  50 children with disabilities (PWDs).The school has a general  teachers enrollment of 40.

In an interaction with the head teacher Mr.Zeverio Muhindo, he said the school was faced with a number of challenges that hinder the smooth running of education as well as improving on the hygiene and child protection strategies.  On .protection during a tour of the school we observed that the school had .inadequate Latrine coverage with only twelve latrine stance giving a latrine stance ,pupil ratio of 1:173 which is contrary to the recommended ratio of 1:45. Making matters worse toilets do not have doors and pupils are forced to shield each other. The fact that the toilets are not regularly cleaned and in some cases the roofs leak also makes the situation pathetic. According to Mrs Katusime Benadet, she told us that some girls are known to miss school during their menstrual period, saying that the toilets do not offer the privacy they need for them to change their sanitary towels which affects their performance and attendance in class. “For child to miss four or five days of school due to a natural occurrence is simply wanting”. The girls claim that the toilet doors cannot shut or are broken. 

KALI STAFF MONITORING LATRINES AT KAMASASA PRIMARY SCHOOL APRIL 2016

 The head teacher said that, they are lobbing for more funds and help from both government and NGOs for the intervention because the situation is alarming. Though the sub-county is promising to construct more latrines but because of the bureaucracy of the government, you find that, they delay in their implementation which can cause short term illness and absence from school.

Toilets and sanitation system cater for one of the most basic human functions. Inadequate facilities, poor access and poor knowledge of urinary or bowel health can have wide ranging implications for physical, emotional and psychological health. This is true for children who are powerless to bring improvements to this aspect of their life. While inadequate access to clean, pleasant toilets will affect all children’s academic resulting into poor performance, it can have a particularly negative impact for children with disabilities. The situation at Kamasasa primary school pre disposes the children, teachers and community to cholera which is a common disease in the border town of Mpondwe Lhubiriha Town Council. 

By Matise Jolamu

 Volunteer KALI