DODOMA: The Dodoma Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (DUWASA), in partnership with Vitens Evides International (VEI) and Rotary Clubs, has unveiled a 420m/- School WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Programme that will benefit six primary schools in the capital city.
The authority’s Managing Director, Eng Aron Joseph, said in Dodoma on Monday during a School WASH stakeholders’ meeting that the primary schools where the programme will be executed are Makulu, Mtube, Nzuguni B, Ndachi, Sokoine, and Uhuru.
Eng. Joseph said the success of the project, which will be implemented within two months, will not only be measured by its completion alone, but also by its long-lasting quality.
“In addition, if this project is implemented well and development partners are satisfied with its results, it will be easier to get another opportunity to reach children in other needy schools. Therefore, how we implement and take care of this project today will determine how many will benefit tomorrow,” he said.
According to the director, this project is expected to benefit 11,277 students studying in these six schools, alongside teachers and the community surrounding these schools who will also benefit from a clean and safe environment.
He said the selection of these schools involved the respective council, stating the approach was “the right choice” to ensure that support reaches those who need it most.
According to Eng Joseph, the schools were selected based on poor toilet conditions.
ALSO READ: Tanzania, Korea sign 9bn/- deal to boost water services in Dodoma
Officiating the meeting, Dodoma District Commissioner Alhaj Jabir Shekimweri said the project contributes to the government’s initiatives to improve the learning environment.
“Improved learning environment means you boost attendance, which will subsequently improve learning,” he said.
DC Shekimweri said the partnership between DUWASA, Vitens Evides International (VEI), and Rotary Clubs reflects President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s efforts to strengthen partnerships in order to accelerate development.
He asked meeting participants to discuss constructively and come up with a strong plan that will ensure this project succeeds.
Meanwhile, the Head Teacher of Uhuru Primary School in Dodoma City, Agatha Mosha, said the project is going to solve the School WASH challenge because currently at the school there are only four toilet stances, including two for boys and two for girls.
According to the head teacher, those toilets are currently dilapidated as they were built in 1928.
“Therefore, if you look from those years until today, those toilets have already become dilapidated. But right now, we are going to get these toilets; they will help us a lot, students will study comfortably, their health will improve very well, and we expect to increase school performance because students will attend school very well,” she said.
She added that the project is also going to solve the challenge faced by girls by providing toilets to protect their dignity and there will also be toilets for children with special needs.
DUWASA manages water and sanitation services for Dodoma City and surrounding areas and it works alongside Vitens Evides International (VEI) through structured Water Operator Partnerships (WOPs) like the WaterWorX program, while local and international Rotary Clubs frequently collaborate on community-based water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure projects across Tanzania.