The government of the republic of Iceland has given UNICEF up to $300,000 (about Ugx 1.07 billion) to help maintain hygiene in schools through providing critical hand washing facilities and supply them to 600 primary and secondary schools across the country.
Provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene conditions is central in protecting populations from infections during pandemics, including the Covid-19 outbreak which still remains a national and global health problem with about 3,595 dead since March 2020 when its outbreak was confirmed in the country.
UNICEF said, in a statement dated March 17, that an additional 200 schools supported by the Children’s Fund in 2020-2021 will receive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) supplies only.
The 600 schools with the Government of Iceland funding will receive supplies including; liquid soap, bleach, boots, gloves, cleaning mops, sprayers and alcohol-based sanitizers to promote proper hygiene practices.
In coordination, the schools will ensure availability of water and manpower for effective cleaning of the school facilities and hygiene promotion.
In an effort to remind students of the importance of personal hygiene, schools will receive child-friendly posters.
“Iceland is committed to supporting efforts towards eradication of disease, illiteracy and poverty globally. In Uganda, the COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on health, learning, and livelihoods of communities,” said Thordis Sigurdardottir, Head of Mission Embassy of Iceland.
Ms Sigurðardóttir added: “The most affected are children, especially girls, and youth. The WHO and CDC emphasize hand washing with soap as a practice that could protect about 1 out of every 3 young children who get sick with diarrhea and 1 out of 5 young children with respiratory infections including Covid-19. This improves school attendance leading to improved child development.”
According to her, Iceland recognizes the role played by UNICEF in promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child globally.
“We are glad to contribute to UNICEF’s mission through our modest support that will be used to improve hand-washing facilities and practices in 600 schools in Uganda,” she said.
To ensure schools remain operational since the reopening in January 2022, investments in infection prevention and control through adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are key and will contribute to limiting exposure to the disease and probability of its transmission among pupils, students, teachers, and non-teaching staff within the schools.
“Inadequate WASH services in schools and communities can result into poor health and increase several diseases like diarrhoea, infections, malnutrition, water-borne diseases among others which all hinder the growth of children. With this additional funding from the Iceland Government, UNICEF will contribute to the reduction of water-borne and poor hygiene related diseases in 600 schools,” said Dr. Munir Safieldin, UNICEF representative in Uganda.
According to Dr Safieldin, it is important that schools remain open to benefit millions of students currently catching up on what was missed when the schools closed, now that Uganda’s government strives to contain the spread of the virus.
He also stressed that Iceland will continue to offer its support to ensure safe and continued learning to benefit children, especially the most marginalized that were most affected by the pandemic.