Rural school gets access to improved WASH facilities

Lae, Morobe Province, 1 September 2032 - More than 200 school children in a rural primary school in Nawaeb District can now enjoy access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, thanks to the Government of Japan.

Wesan Primary School is the happy recipient of six gender segregated toilets, handwashing facilities, two water storage tanks and an incinerator for safe waste disposal, that Japan’s Ambassador to PNG, His Excellency Nobuyuki Watanabe launched recently.

The project, funded by the Government of Japan, facilitated by UNICEF and implemented by Anis Foundation, in collaboration with the Nawaeb District Administration, will impact positively on children’s learning, especially adolescent girls, who now have a safe and dignified facility for menstrual hygiene management.

“Japan and UNICEF have worked together to promote hygiene and sanitation in schools, health centres and communities. I strongly wish that the joint actions by Japan and UNICEF will bring good circumstances for students to feel safer and more comfortable to study,” said Ambassador Nobuyuki at the launch event.

In Nawaeb District, Wesan Primary is one of three schools benefitting from this support in addition to one health facility and one community who also have access to improved WASH facilities.

UNICEF thanked the Government of Japan for the invaluable ongoing partnership and support that allowed children to learn, access health care, be protected, and live healthier and more fulfilling lives.

“Safe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene are very important to humans’, especially children’s health and well-being. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are critical to personal health, to improved livelihoods, uninterrupted school attendance and help to create strong communities living in healthy environments,” UNICEF Representative, Dr. Claudes Kamenga stressed.

Wesan primary school students are now among more than 112,000 people including more than 105,000 children across two districts – Nawaeb district in Morobe Province and Bogia district in Madang Province - enjoying improved access to clean water, safe and proper toilets, menstrual hygiene facilities, and enhanced hygiene and sanitation awareness.

This was made possible through a generous funding support of 1.2 million US dollars that the Government of Japan contributed to address the lack of WASH services in households, schools and communities and further prevent the spread of COVID-19.