WASH’ Nutrition

3.4. WASH and nutrition in schools
Schools are respectable and permanent community institutions. They are the most important places for children to play, grow,
learn and to acquire essential skills for life. Promoting healthy habits in healthy learning environments allow children to make
the most out of their education through better health. In addition, children benefit from school health interventions regardless
of their background so that existing inequalities are reduced and all have better chances for a healthy and productive life. 172
School-based programmes target children above five years of age, who are
not the primary target group of the WASH’Nutrition strategy and related
interventions. However, targeting school age children, adolescent girls
in particular, provides a unique opportunity to work on undernutrition
prevention on a long-term basis. WASH and nutrition interventions that
reach adolescents help create healthy habits that continue into adulthood.
Addressing school age children can establish them as agents of change -
various studies have shown that communities began to build latrines on
their own as a result of promotional actions implemented through different
school-based WASH programmes. 173
There are several examples of how WASH interventions could be implemented
in school settings so as to positively impact children’s nutritional status:
Some field experiences show that WASH
kits distribution in health facilities can
lead to an increase of beneficiaries during
screening sessions, which consequently result
in more SAM children being admitted
to the nutrition programme. However, this
activity can also lead to “fake” admissions,
motivated only by the wish of getting the
kits. On that account, it is very important
to consider the potential adverse effects of
distribution activities, as sometimes it might
be better not to implement them.
NOTE
1) Fit for school approach - a large-scale, integrated, cost-effective and evidence-based
programme that bridges the gap between sectors
Large numbers of school children in South-East Asia suffer
from diarrhea, acute respiratory diseases, worms and dental
caries, illnesses that are preventable and caused mainly by
poor hygiene. These diseases seriously impair a child’s physical
and cognitive development and have a negative impact on
their ability to learn. Launched in the Philippines in 2008, the
Fit for School approach focuses on effective school health
programmes that can be financed locally and implemented
using the resources of the education sector.
FIGURE 22: The Fit for School Action
Framework
The approach enforces evidence-based preventative measures
such as teeth brushing, hand washing with soap and regular
deworming to address high-impact diseases among school
children. These measures are combined with improved access to
WASH facilities in schools. 174 Daily teeth brushing with fluoride
toothpaste and hand washing with soap are integrated into
the children’s normal school day in the form of group activities
Source: web
run by teachers. These daily routines have a lasting effect on
hygiene practices and supplement traditional forms of health education, which are based on knowledge transfer only. The
children are also dewormed twice each year. This activity is also performed by school teachers. The programme involves
improving water supplies and sanitary services, where parents and the community are actively involved in the construction of
washing facilities or the provision of clean water to schools without access. Improving access to water and providing sanitary
facilities suitable for children in the participating schools create a healthy school environment which is essential for improving
long-term health. 175
In schools where the Fit for School approach was implemented, 20% fewer children were underweight, the number of new
cases of caries had fallen by 40%, serious worm disorders had halved, and there were 30% fewer illness-related absences
compared to schools employing traditional health education. 176 The programme also helped to greatly improve access to water
172 - GIZ (2014) “Fit for School approach - Improving health for better education and child development”
173 - UNICEF Nepal (2006) “Guidelines on School led Total Sanitation”
174 - Fit for school: Benzian & al, http://www.fitforschool.international/wp-content/ezdocs/Fit_for_School_Action_Framework_Benzian_et_al_2012.pdf
175 - GIZ (2014) “Fit for School approach - Improving health for better education and child development”
176 - GIZ (2014) “Fit for School approach - Improving health for better education and child development”
WASH’Nutrition
A practical guidebook
101