SPRODETA, with funding from One day’s Wages (ODW), has constructed toilets, girls’ changing rooms and rehabilitated boreholes at Kalira, Upighu and Chizumu Primary Schools in Chitipa. The facilities, funded under the Chitipa Clean water and Improved Sanitation for Schools and Surrounding Communities Water project, aim to provide clean water and improve hygiene in the schools.

In his remarks, Charles Simbeye, the Head Teacher of Kalira Primary School, commended the project, stating that hygiene and girls’ privacy would improve with the provision of these facilities.

“Some girls were uncomfortable coming to school during menstruation, but now, with these facilities, especially the available changing rooms, attendance will improve among girls during menstruation,” he said.

“In the past, the girls here had no proper privacy and our boreholes were in bad shape, compromising their privacy and hygiene,” he added.

The Head teacher also noted that people from surrounding communities draw water from the school’s borehole and with its rehabilitation, community hygiene has improved.

SPRODETA Field Officer Yvonne Chipeta stated that their aim was to improve access to safe and clean water, enhance girls’ privacy and boost school attendance.

Lusayo Mtambo, a guardian with two children at the school, commended SPRODETA and One Day’s Wages, saying, “We have numerous challenges in this community, and water, sanitation and hygiene are just some of them. We are thankful for the initiative in our community, which will ensure that hygiene is maintained.”