TY  - BOOK
AU  - Lughano, Godfrey. Mwaules
AU  - Ngallaba, Sospatro. E
AU  - Makerere, Daniel. J 
TI  -  An Assessment of Availability of Sanitation Facilities in Public Primary Schools in Magu District
PY  - 2017///
CY  - Mwanza, Tanzania: 
PB  - Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] :   
KW  -  
N2  - Abstract: 

Tanzania government through the leadership of President John Pombe magufuli has declared its own mission of giving free education from pre, primary to secondary school and also improving condition in schools by making sure that there is availability of desks to all pupils at schools as well as urge all parents to send their children to school. This has led to massive increase in the enrolment of pupils in primary schools. Which on other hand has resulted to health effect to pupils following the present status of water and sanitation availability in school which is only 38%. So increase in enrolment of pupils in our schools has added the burden on pupil sanitation ratio which does not conform with the number of pupils at schools.

Rationale of the study: Since our children spent most of time at school, sanitation facilities to them is a vital thing. So with increasing number of pupils at school following presidential declaration, study aim at assessing the availability of sanitation facility available to see whether they are in conformity with standard required by MoEVT. So that the result will help intervention to be taken to help our children. Also the result will spur further study on this area. And for award of my undergraduate medical doctor degree. And above all it is to ensure that health of our children is preserved. 

Objective: Of the study is to assess the availability and the standard of the sanitation facilities in public primary schools in Magu district to see whether are in conformity with the stipulated standards set by MoEVT guideline of 2010. And whether the current presidential declaration has an effect on sanitation facilities in public primary school in Magu district as its status of water sanitation availability in school is not promising too. 

Methods and analysis: This was a descriptive cross sectional study carried out in a population sample of thirty one (31) public primary schools in Magu district in September 2016, during normal school term. A structured observational assessment based on a prepared checklist was carried out as well as key informants interview. (These are head teachers, health/environment teachers and head prefects). The study employed mixed sampling techniques to ensure proportionate presentation of schools in the district. 

Results: A total of 30,050 pupils with 14,710 boys and 15,340 girls was found in study schools. Out of this preschool pupil in the study year were 5,361 (2,754 boys and 2,607 girls) in previous year 4,656 (2,188 boys and 2,468 girls) and for primary school in study year, standard one were 6,092 (3,068 boys and 3,024 girls). In previous year had 4,496 (2,137 boys and 2,359 girls) the figures shows the obvious increase in pupil enrolment. Average pupils per study schools in 969 pupils (474 boys and 495 girls) with school range of (225-876 boys and 270-896 girls). Staff were 588 (169 males and 419 females) and pupils with disability were 60=3.2% (n=1) of study schools. Latrine observed were 345 latrine ratio were 1latrine hole for 87 pupils both boys and girls. For staff 1 latrine holes for 14 male staff’s one (1) latrine hole for 35 female staffs. National standard guideline stipulate a ratio of 20 pupils to 1 latrine hole for girls, 25 pupils to 1 latrine hole for boys and 1 latrine hole for 12 staff but the situation in the study schools differed greatly. The main source of water varied with few having piped water but majority are from wells and others harvest rain water from school roofs. But water restriction found to be 90.3% in all study schools. 67.7% of school of study schools had designated hand washing points but water was only available in morning hours by 77.4% of these schools. The study found that 100% head teacher and health/environment teachers had no knowledge of the national standard guideline for SWASH. 

Conclusion: The assessment reveals that presidential declaration had health effect to pupils. In that pupils latrine ratio does not confirm to the MoEVT guideline for SWASH due massive increase in pupils enrolment. And hand washing points lacking reliable water source. In addition head teachers and health/environmental teachers ought to be knowledgeable on the national guidelines standards so as to make sure they can know the standard to work own.

Primary school, sanitation facilities, latrines hygiene, water, pupils, school children, school community

ER  -