USAID And UNICEF Dissemenate Best Practices From Successful School Sanitation Program

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 08 Apr 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) celebrated the success of their five-year partnership to enhance environment safety and hygiene conditions in thousands of schools across Jharkhand and Karnataka. The close-of-project dissemination meeting was held today at the UNDP Conference Hall in Delhi.

Beth Hogan, USAID Deputy Director, noted during her remarks that, "Lack of proper water and sanitation facilities in primary schools is often a major contributor to high drop out rates and poor attendance, especially among girls. Children enroll in greater numbers, attend school more regularly, remain in school for more years, and learn more effectively when their schools offer clean water, toilets, and a secure environment."

Over the period from September 2003 - February 2008, the School Water and Sanitation Towards Hygiene and Health - Putting Lessons Learned to use (SWASTHH-PLUS) program, worked in partnership with the Government of India and state governments to improve school facilities, providing sanitary school conditions and hygiene lessons for almost a million children in more than 5500 public schools. The program also incorporated practical aspects of health, hygiene and environment into classroom and extra curricular activities.

http://www.usaid.gov