Hope Restored: Katambasula Primary School Embraces Hygiene Revolution with World Vision’s Support.

For a long time, Katambasula Primary School in Traditional Authority Liwonde in Machinga District, has struggled with severe hygiene issues. 

The lack of water on campus and the poor condition of the toilets have made the situation dire, often leading to students contracting waterborne diseases.

Clement, a student at the school, described the situation as "worse and devastating." 

He highlighted the absence of basic sanitation facilities.

“The toilets we currently use have no water and are not in good condition. We don't wash our hands after using the toilets because there are no taps at the school, not even for drinking water," he said. 

He also expressed concerns about students entering the toilets without shoes, which increases the risk of infections. 

Clement noted that the poor hygiene conditions often cause illnesses, leading to absenteeism as students seek medical treatment.

However, hope has been restored as World Vision has stepped in to address these challenges. 

World Vision has constructed modern toilets equipped with water sinks, bringing much-needed relief to the students and staff.

"We are very excited and happy because our performance will improve. 

Many children will not drop out or miss school because they are sick or avoiding unhygienic toilets," Clement said with a smile.

Stella, another Standard 5 student, couldn't hide her happiness about the new development.

 "As a girl, it was hard to use the old toilets because they were not in good condition," she shared. 

The new facilities have given her and many other girls a sense of dignity and safety.

She also highlighted that the toilets are disability friendly that they will accommodate every student.

Enoch Sukali, the headteacher of Katambasula Primary School, expressed his gratitude and relief at the new developments. 

"For a long time, the school struggled with hygiene issues related to toilets and water. Since my arrival in 2022, this has been a significant challenge. Seeing these new modern toilets with water is a great achievement," he said.

Sukali emphasized the impact of the previous conditions on students' academic performance.

 "Sometimes children would miss school because of bad toilets, and there was no water even for drinking, forcing them to go to the nearest village, which disrupted their studies. Now, we expect more children in class with improved performance," he added,