School heads in Kisii County have been asked to ensure pit latrines are in good state in their institutions as learning begins for first term.
Kisii based Public Health Officer Dr Callen Nyaboke said that as a result of heavy rains in December, most school latrines sagged and dunk and may cause danger to learners unless they are repaired.
She said some schools are using filled up pit pit latrines with exposed wet faeces that pose danger to learners because they harbour water borne diseases like cholera and dysentery
“I urge out public health officers to visit those schools and villages to advise them on the adherence to hygiene practices for their welfare,” she said.
A spot check by Education News indicated that some pit latrines in the rural primary school were in a wanting state.
Dry banana fibres
In some primary school in Etago Sub-county, the pit latrines were covered with dry banana fibres as walls. This deprived the pupils of both their privacy as they visited the latrines for biological processes.
Schools near shopping centres suffered from sharing their pit latrines with the public who intruded them causing fear to especially girls who feared being molested by male strangers.
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Most parents who talked to Education News expressed concern over the issue of construction of pit latrines in schools and attributed it to lazy Board of School Management Committees (SMCs) who trivialize this important facility.
The appealed to the National Environment Management Authority to intervene and arrest the situation before it worsens.
By Enock Okong’o
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