This toilet / sanitary building facility construction project is part of a comprehensive rehabilitation project at Ikot Etenge Primary School located in Ikot Abasi LGA, Akwa Ibom State in Southern Nigeria. Commissioned on July 3, 2017, this toilet facility now serves the children who attend this primary school, as well as their teachers.
On July 3, 2017, we commissioned a Toilet/Sanitary Facility at Ikot Etenge Primary School located in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, as part of a comprehensive effort to provide clean water, adequate sanitary facilities and educational resources for the children in this underserved rural community. The toilet/sanitary facility features 4 toilet stalls, 1 urinal, 2 wash-hand basins and a storage room.
The goal of this project was to provide adequate sanitation and hygiene for the children who attend this rural school, especially considering the needs of girls who often miss schools due to issues related to sanitation and personal hygiene. The old pit latrine used by the children exposed them to diseases due to open defecation. The new toilet facility is a beacon of hope for the children at this school, most of whom have never seen a water system toilet before, and most importantly will help improve sanitary conditions and prevent the spread of diseases at the school.
This project was adopted and mainly sponsored by D&B Engineers and Architects, PC. In addition, we received donations from other associates of D&B including individual donors and companies like Hubbinette-Cowell Associates, Inc, Albretch, Viggiano, Zureck & Co., P.C., Koester Associates, Inc., Houlihan-Parnes Properties Management and RJ Industries and Jaspan Schlesinger LLP.
Message from weCare Africa to the Children/School on the Water Project Commissioning:
We are delighted to present this modern toilet / sanitary facility to the children of Ikot Etenge Primary School. This project was initiated with every child from this village and its environs in mind.
This project was initiated because weCare Africa truly believes that adequate sanitation is a basic service and a human right. Poor toilet facilities and inadequate sanitation leads to exposure to human waste, which causes illnesses such as diarrhea. Also, research has shown that lack of clean water and inadequate sanitation, as well as hygiene-related issues are a leading cause of diseases and death in developing countries.
We highly advise that every person who uses the toilet facility wash their hands before leaving the facility as a way to protect your personal health and that of the school community. Hand washing has been proven to be a simple and highly effective way for preventing the spread of disease-causing germs.
Having been provided this key resource, we encourage you the students, both boys and girls, to stay in school and work very hard so that your future may be bright.
Project Background
Last year, we identified Ikot Etenge Primary School as a school lacking basic educational resources and selected your school for rehabilitation assistance from weCare Africa. As a follow-up to the clean and safe water project completed in January 2017, this toilet facility has been completed as part of our overall effort to improve learning conditions at the school and attract more local students to register and stay in school.
Project Goals
Research has shown that in the absence of adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities at schools, children, particularly girls reaching puberty, are much more likely to drop out of school. Because we understand the power of education, our hope is that by providing this toilet facility, the children of this community will be healthier as the spread of diseases is reduced, thereby allowing them to focus more on their education.
Maintenance and Security
We call on the students, teachers and other citizens of this village to maintain this toilet facility system and treat it like your own personal property. Understand that this toilet facility is for your own good and a beacon of hope for your village. As such, please do not vandalize any part of the toilet facility.
Materials Donated by weCare Africa as part of this project
A new toilet building
A soak away system
4 toilet stalls with modern toilet equipment
1 urinal for boys
2 wash-hand basins
Two water storage drums
Hand soap, tissue paper and cleaning supplies (3 months supply)
