Dirty school latrines put pupils’ health at risk in Songea Region

Songea. Children studying in early grades are at a high risk of suffering from kidney complications, experts have cautioned, attributing the situation to the possibility of them getting Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

Basically, UTIs happen when bacteria, often from the skin or rectum, enter the urethra and infect the urinary tract.

While UTIs mostly affect the bladder, some types also affect the kidney.

A study conducted at some primary schools in Songea region has revealed the existence of dirty environments, especially in pit latrines used by pupils, which pose a threat to children’s health.

The fact that some latrines emit strong smells and are full of excrement and urine, and some do not even have tap water, makes medical experts to say that the condition could have some far-reaching medical ramifications to pupils, especially those below the age of eight.

According to Dr Regina Hyera, a Pediatric specialist at the Songea Referral Hospital (HOMSO), if UTI is not treated earlier, its bacteria move up to attack the kidney.

She notes that pupils under the age of eight, to a large extent, cannot clean themselves properly and sometimes they do not clean themselves at all.

“Some schools have inadequate water supply, which means there is no enough water for pupils to clean themselves up properly. Another problem is that some children do not drink water if they are not forced to,” says Dr Hyera.

She mentions the effects of frequent UTI in children as including kidney failure, scarring in the kidney and high blood pressure.

According to Dr Hyera, the UTI bacteria travel out through the urethra and move towards the bladder and in small amounts those bacteria can pass through the blood or lymph systems.

She says for uncircumcised boys who are aged below one year, the risk of getting UTI was even high as the bacteria breeds on the skin that covers the penis and climbs towards the bladder.

Dr Hyera says among issues that contribute to the increased UTI in children is the misuse of antibiotics by not finishing the dosage according to prescriptions, which makes the disease chronic.

There is also the issue of poor nutrition that causes malnutrition which reduces the body’s immunity and cause the bacteria to breed rapidly.

Not enough water to drink

Medical experts say drinking enough water helps washing the UTI bacteria away before they reach the bladder during urination.

“If you don’t urinate regularly, the possibility of infections increases and if you don’t drink enough water, you won’t urinate regularly,” says Dr Hyera.

In order to save children from suffering from UTI, Dr Hyera has called upon teachers to make sure that school pit latrines have enough water and has advised school children to wash themselves properly after helping themselves, to keep school latrines and washing facilities clean.

She also advised parents to get their children to hospital if they notice the signs of UTI so that they can be tested, given the right medicine and ensure they finish the medicine to prevent the disease from recurring.

Bonita Mwingira, a pupil at Halale Primary School, says the environment of their school pit latrines is dirty. She says it is common to find faeces when they go to relieve themselves and that the situation is worse for the pre-school children who share the toilets with the pupils of the upper classes. She adds that the pit latrines do not meet the number of pupils, and that the sanitary facilities are also few.

For his part, Standard Two pupil at Mkako Primary School Japhet Mahinya shares a similar story, saying that their school toilets are dirty. He also says some of his school mates do not ‘flush’ after relieving themselves. As a result there is widespread stomach ailments at the school.

For her part, Standard Two pupil Pendo Michael, who studies at Halale Primary School located in Mbinga District Council, says that the school’s toilet environment is dirty because there is no water and they are forced to relieve themselves in a dirty place with a strong smell.

The head of Halale Primary School, Ms Gaudence Luambano, says they do not have enough pit latrines. They currently have 14 while the real demand is 32 pit latrines to suit the total number of 722 pupils, out of whom, 374 are boys and 362 girls.

She says that the available pit latrines are used by 130 pupils under the age of five and other pupils, and that they will continue to provide education to parents and guardians to ensure that they test and treat their children for the UTI and other disease and keep the toilets in clean and safe condition. “The truth is that we have not yet prepared a plan to construct pit latrines for under five school children, although we have the desire to do so.

“Currently, our plan is to construct more pit latrines that will serve all the pupils,” says Ms Luambano.

She says that the school has eight pit latrines that are in dilapidated conditions, but with the efforts of parents and other residents of Kigonsera and the village government, they have succeeded in constructing six pit latrines and a special room for girl students.

She asked the village government to cooperate with parents in order to reduce the challenges they are facing, saying that parents are ready to volunteer because they are eager to see their children get decent education.

For her part, Adeliheri Newa Mzazi says the situation is bad because their children are constantly suffering from typhoid fever and when they are tested, they are diagnosed with UTI and hence they get worried.

“UTI still exists in our area and not a month goes by without our children complaining about stomach ache. We ask the village government to ensure adequate water supply in school toilets,” says Ms Newa.

Ms Rhaiman Salum, a resident of Lipokela, says that she, as a parent, wishes education were provided to teachers so that they can be aware of the effects of chronic UTI in children in order to save them from infertility and kidney diseases.

“As parents, we try hard to keep our home toilets clean so that our children can relieve themselves in safe places, but the problem is when they are at school, where there is little supervision,” says Ms Salum.

“I would advise the councils to issue a guideline for every school to make shifts for two parents or two guardians to do cleanliness in order to save the health of our children and this is possible,” she says.

For her part, Ms Jamila Ngole, Health Teacher and Assistant Head of Mkako Primary School, called upon local government leaders to help build toilets for 121 under five pupils, saying that UTI infections are at 30 percent in their school.

She says that they have set a strategy for keeping the school toilet environment clean three times a day in cooperation with the pupils.

She notes that in the morning they clean the toilets by using clean water with powdered soap and ashes and that they have directed the school children to make sure they use water before and after relieving themselves.

For his part, Kigonsera Ward Education Officer Mwimbira Gallus says young children are at the high risk of contracting non-communicable diseases including UTI.

“Deliberate efforts are need to be taken to construct toilets for young school children because their interaction in the toilets may not be good for their safety, although the school has laid down strategies to ensure that school children relieve themselves in clean and safe environment by using water all the time,” says Mr Gallus

Mr France Komba, who doubles as a teacher and the Mkako Ward Education Officer, says the school has 875 pupils, who need 33 more pit latrines from the available 18 that are used by older and pre-school pupils and that the school is facing a shortage of 18 pit latrines.

For his part, Ruvuma Regional Education Officer Emmanuel Kisongo has urged the community to ensure under five children are compulsorily enrolled for pre education. He has also said facilities such as classrooms and toilets should be readily available for them.

He says the central government has provided funds for constructing facilities for pre- education and that each council has got one school, whereby classrooms and toilets are still under construction.