Cicod invests K48m in modern latrines for Lilongwe schools

Circle for Integrated Community Development (Cicod) has far spent K48 million in construction of modern latrines in six primary school with Lilongwe City at part of the water and sanitation project.

St Johns, Chinsapo, Biwi,  Ngwenya,  Kakule,  and Mvama are the primary schools that have benefitted from this project.

Speaking during a handover of some of the latrines at Mvuma Primary School in Lilongwe, on Friday Cicod executive director Amos Tizora said a research carried out by Wateraid exposed that most schools in the per-urban area have poor latrines which are a healthy hazards to the kids.

“It was also discovered that these schools that these schools had few toilets as compared to the population of the pupils. For example Mvuma has 4000 pupils but had only sis latrine0s. This project we have embarked on is a result of that research,” said Tizora.

Tizora said the K48 million used to construct the latrines was provided by WaterAid Malawians as part of the ongoing water and sanitation project in the city of Lilongwe.

“The new latrines have taken into consideration the disabled, menstrual hygiene for adolescent pupils. These modern latrines have special features suitable for such pupils. They also have washing facilities as part of enhancing hygiene in schools,” said Tizora.

Project officer Miriam Dzanja said the inclusion on the facilities for menstruating pupils will help reduce of absenting among adolescent girls.

“The performance of adolescent girls has been declining because every month for four days girls would miss classes she is uncomfortable to go to school in her condition as she is afraid o being embarrassed. But with these latrines these girls will be able to attend classes knowing that they have special toilets where their privacy can be respected,” said Dzanja.

School Management Committee representative Justin Mkute at Mvama thanked WaterAid and Cicod for responding to their plight.