Kakuma: Over 160 teachers and school health club patrons from 84 schools converged in Kakuma for a training on spearheading hygiene promotion in schools. This initiative aims to strengthen existing school health systems and address WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) gaps. Participants included 32 teachers from Lokichoggio, 74 from the host community in Turkana West, 42 from Kakuma Refugee Camp, and 20 from Turkana North.
According to Kenya News Agency, the training was led by the sub-county teams and International Rescue Committee (IRC) under the TeachWell Project. It was preceded by a three-day WASH spot-check exercise conducted in 10 selected schools across the three sub-counties. This project, funded by the Lego and Grundfos foundations, seeks to institutionalize school health clubs, actively involve learners in hygiene promotion, create conducive and safe learning environments, and strengthen schools’ capacity to use and maintain donated WASH facilities.
Reuben Kibiego, County WASH Coordinator, urged participants to fully utilize the training and become champions of hygiene promotion in their respective schools. He emphasized the importance of promoting healthy hygiene behaviors and preventing waterborne and hygiene-related diseases through education, while also encouraging gender-sensitive and inclusive WASH practices.
Mercy Amdany, a WASH Officer at IRC, highlighted that teacher transfers over the past three years have affected program sustainability and continuity of knowledge transfer. To address this, two patrons were selected from each school for training to ensure the project’s continuity even if one teacher is transferred.
The training also provided an opportunity for educators to learn from one another, strengthen support systems, and adopt best practices through cross-learning and collaboration. Ruth Kwamboka, a newly appointed patron from Unity Primary School in Kakuma Refugee Camp, expressed her commitment to reviving the inactive school health club using the skills acquired during the training.
Jibril Lokiru, a long-serving patron at St. Michael Loritit Primary School in Turkana West, noted the project’s significant role in sustaining hygiene sensitization efforts through the involvement of teachers, community health workers, and Boards of Management. Emmanuel Mfutu from Naduat DEB Integrated Primary and Junior School shared that the project has positively impacted both the academic and social well-being of learners, particularly girls, by eliminating open defecation and empowering learners to become agents of change.
Medical Officers of Health present during the training called upon teachers and healthcare workers to maintain public health standards within learning institutions. Joel Lochor, the Medical Officer of Health for Turkana North, emphasized the importance of maintaining clean school environments and proper disposal of waste.
In his closing remarks, Samuel Ipaso, the Turkana West Director of Education, called on educators to prioritize safeguarding the well-being of learners. Other notable attendees included Dalmas Lokok (MOH, Lokichoggio), Peter Mutinda, Nancy Birech, Becky Maidei from Health Promotions, and several IRC WASH officers.
