(CPV) - UNICEF and Procter & Gamble (P&G) have completed a 275,000 USD project to provide water and sanitation facilities in primary schools from Dien Bien, Ninh Thuan, An Giang and Dong Thap provinces, as well as educate children, parents and teachers about hygienic practices.
Around 8,000 pupils in 34 schools, of which 40% are ethnic minority, now have access to safe water and hygienic sanitation facilities and demonstrated improved awareness and behavior on hygiene and sanitation. Besides, more than 400 teachers have been trained to operate and maintain the newly constructed water and sanitation systems.
P&G’s generous donation has helped to attain the Millennium Development Goal for water and sanitation and the national target of having sanitation facilities in 100% of schools in Vietnam.
 |
|
Photo: VND (from UNICEF Vietnam) |
“Children are the best educators within their homes and communities about the issue. We hope that the events do not only help to change the sanitary practices of children, but also to encourage the community to adopt these practices. UNICEF appreciates the opportunity to work with the private sector in general, and P&G in particular, in improving the well-being of Vietnamese children. I believe that the private sector can make a real difference in the lives of children, many of whom are living in poverty and deprivation”, said Ms Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF country representative.
A recent survey showed that around 30% of schools in the country did not have adequate hygienic water and sanitation facilities. Additionally, while 73% of schools have latrines, only 12% of rural schools have hygienic latrines meeting Ministry of Health standards .
“I enjoyed the school hygiene and sanitation festival where I received new knowledge on water and sanitation outside the classroom, for a change. My friends and I also practiced hand washing with soap and cleaning the toilet in the new facility. I hope that more events like this will be organized in our school in the future”, shared Tran Thi Phung, a 7th grader from My Tho school, Cao Lanh district, Dong Thap province.
In the area of hygiene and sanitation, over the last five years, P&G has contributed to build almost 50 sanitation facilities for schools across the country. More than 20,000 children has benefited from the program, of which 8,000 children have been touched through this partnership with UNICEF./.