Safe water in schools

A large number of schools in Bangladesh do not have facilities for clean drinking water, hygienic toilets and handwashing arrangement. According to a report of the UN agencies, one in five schools (19 per cent) across the country does not have arrangements for safe drinking water. Almost 8.5 million children have to contend with a lack of basic hygiene facilities during their education. As most of these students cannot afford bottled water, they often have to drink contaminated tap water. This water is one of the means of germ-borne diseases. Drinking this water can cause various diseases including diarrhoea, cholera, hepatitis and typhoid. A lack of safe water and sanitation facilities can cause dehydration, illness and even death. But many children are forced to risk their health to take part in classes. Adolescent girls in particular are often forced to miss classes when they are on their periods if there are no proper cleaning and sanitation facilities.

Access to water, sanitation and hygiene is not only essential for effective infection prevention and control but also a prerequisite for children's health, development and well-being. Schools play a critical role in promoting the formation of healthy habits and behaviours. They should be settings where children thrive and not be subjected to hardship or infections due to lack of, or poorly maintained, basic infrastructure.

Every educational institution in the country must have filter or purifying water systems. These systems should be maintained properly. The government should ensure safe drinking water in all educational institutions by installing modern filters or purifiers.

Md Maruf Hassan Bhiuyan,

Feni

mdmarufhassanbhiuyen@gmail.com