By Our Correspondent
The Lagos State Government has called for collective participation of relevant stakeholders in advocacy to improve school sanitation infrastructure in all schools across the state.
TheNewsZenith reports that the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the call at the end of Stakeholders Interactive Session on School Sanitation held in Lagos.
Wahab urged stakeholders to mobilise resources to address sanitation improvement gaps in all schools.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr Gaji Omobolaji represented the commissioner at the event.
According to Wahab, adequate sanitation and hygiene practices are the foundation of a healthy learning in any environment.
He said the lives of future leaders were shaped within the walls of schools.
The commissioner noted that it is the duty of everyone to ensure that young minds grow up under the appropriate conditions that support both their education and health.
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TheNewsZenith reports that theme of the interactive session is “Embracing Sanitation and Hygiene Behaviour in Schools in Lagos State”.
Wahab described the theme as apt, adding that schools are more than just places of learning.
”They are also places where values, attitudes, and behaviors were formed.
“Together, we can create a school environment in Lagos that promotes good health, dignity and equality for all children.
“This is our shared responsibility and I am confident that, united in purpose, we can achieve this vision for our children,” Wahab said.
He noted that when schools embrace best sanitation practices, it would benefit the students and the community at large.
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The commissioner added that the government recognised that some challenges may exist but were not insurmountable.
According to him, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene are barriers to education.
This is particularly so in schools that lack access to clean water, toilet facilities and knowledge of hygienic practices.
The statement also quoted the Director Sanitation Services, Dr Hassan Sanuth, as saying that access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is an important basic human need.
Sanuth, also speaking at the event, quoting 2022 United Nation’s report as saying 2.2 billion people still lacked portable water.
”About 703 million people are without basic water service while 3.5 billion people lacked safely managed sanitation.
”Also, 1.5 billion people are without basic sanitation services and two billion lacked basic hand washing facility.
”Similarly, 653 million people lack hand washing facility at all,” he said.
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