Health
"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver"There are many barriers which prevent young people from accessing education and health is a less visible one.
Rural primary schools in Tanzania face health challenges from poor sanitation leading to waterborne illnesses, limited access to trained staff and resources for basic care, significant undernutrition and its cognitive impacts, and inadequate menstrual hygiene facilities contributing to absenteeism. These issues are exacerbated by insufficient funding for health services and infrastructure, creating barriers to learning and overall well-being for students.
The Challenges
The poor sanitation and lack of, or limited access to, water often results in inadequate toilets leading to high levels of waterborne illnesses. The fear of using the toilets can also lead to children refraining from eating or drinking which can lead to dehydration, urinary tract infections and of course hunger. All of which are enemies to learning. Girls are less unlikely to attend school when on their periods due to lack of a safe space to look after themselves.
Schools often lack the funds to provide soap and sanitary products
Malnutrion from poor and/or insufficient diet can impact on physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development.
Our Strategy
Out Stratey is to tackle both the infrastructure challenges being faced within the schools and the lack of awareness levels surrounding menstraution, diet and hand hygiene. Our approach is to tackle taboo subjects with sensitivity and facts.
Our Programmes
Hand Hygiene.
Over the pandemic we installed hand washing facilities in schools all across Babati, provided kick start soap supplies and taught teachers of the importance of hand hygiene so that they can pass it on to their students. Knowing how and when to wash your hands is so important when student play in the fields and eat with their hands. Diarrhoea is a significant health issue among children in Tanzania, it is considered a leading cause of child mortality, with prevalence rates varying but often reported to be around 12% among children under five years old; poor sanitation, inadequate access to clean water, and improper hygiene practices are major contributing factors to this problem. If we are able to instil hand washing as the behavioural norm, it can effect future generations.
Menstrual Hygiene
This often taboo subject is managed with great sensitivity. Menstruation is a natural and normal biological function of the female reproductive system, driven by hormonal changes in the body that occur cyclically each month, preparing the uterus for potential pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the lining of the uterus sheds, resulting in menstrual bleeding - making it an integral part of the body's reproductive cycle. This biological, emotional and practical issues surrounding menstruation are poorly taught in schools and misinformation abounds. Our project educates community influencers, teachers, school leaders, boys and girls and helps to establish hygiene clubs where girls can support each other. We ask the community to fund emergency pads for the schools.
Diet.
Our Sustainable Livelihoods Programme can influence food security and therefore impact diet at home. One of the T&Cs of partnering with us is a requirement that the community ensure the provision of a lunchtime meal for students.
We also encourage schools to establish and run market garden projects that can enhance the nutritional value of the meals.
A lunchtime meal boosts energy levels and teachers report far greater afternoon attendance and engagement, which helps them get through the lessons plans.