Red Cross improves sanitation in Mwanza
Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) has said construction of modern pit latrines in schools in Mwanza is expected to improve access to education.
MRCS secretary general MacBen Kanongodza said this on Wednesday during the handover of five girl’s toilets worth K3.5 million at Lipongwe Primary School in Silota Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Nthache in the district.
Gondwe (L) and Chipeta look on
He said they strive to provide a conducive learning environment for pupils, especially girls who need special care during menses.
“Every month, to preserve dignity, the girls rarely report to schools with no sanitation facilities and this results into poor performance.
“But we think girls in villages around Lipongwe will be in class throughout as the school has been provided with standard toilets,” said Kanongodza.
In an interview, Mwanza acting district commissioner Humphrey Gondwe commended MRCS for the gesture, saying the toilets will help to tackle open defaecation at the school.
“This is timely assistance as the school had no functional girls’ toilets for a long time, forcing them to answer the call of nature in nearby bushes,” he said.
Mwanza district education manager Gertrude Chipeta said well-wishers and other organisations should also help the district to address shortage of toilets in schools. n
