EVALUATION OF WASH SERVICES IN SCHOOLS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ANAPOLIS, BRAZIL

Abstract

The supply of drinking water, the management of wastewater (defined as the supply of structures and services designated for the elimination of human urine and faeces) and hygiene are the key points of the Sustainable Development Goal n.6 (SDG 6). These three aspects are internationally resumed with the acronym WaSH: water, sanitation and hygiene. This study evaluated the level of the WASH services in 10 public primary schools in the municipality of Anapolis (Brazil), involving a total of 3816 students and 205 professors. Anapolis is a Brazilian municipality of the State of Goiás located in the Center-West region of the country, the city is 50 km from the capital Goiania and 140 km from the Federal Capital Brasilia. The WaSH evaluation was done through a questionnaire that was developed following the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP). Subsequently the water was collected for the microbiological analysis that was performed by the microbiology laboratory of the State University of Goiás using the criteria of the "Practical Manual of Water Analysis of the National Health Foundation" (FUNASA). Of the 10 schools taken into account, 9 were located in urban areas and 1 in a rural area. Urban schools use the public water system as a source of supply. The water is treated with chlorine by the company Saneago and in schools, water is stored in tanks with a capacity of 5000 L. The rural school instead, uses water coming from a protected artesian well. Students of the 10 schools drink water from the drinking fountains equipped with a ceramic filter with charcoal activated for potabilization. The microbiological analysis revealed the presence of Escherichia coli in 50% of the examined schools. Regarding sanitation it emerged that 40% of the schools use an off-site sewage system and that 60% of the schools dispose the wastewater in septic tanks. UNICEF and WHO defined that schools must have at least one toilette for each 25 female students and one toilette and one urinal for each 50 male students. Based on these parameters, all of the 10 schools revealed an insufficient number of toilettes and regarding the accessibility, 40% of the schools didn’t have bathrooms suitable for mobility-impaired children. All schools were equipped with handwashing structures, but soap was not available in the restrooms. Hygiene education is taught sporadically, there is not a planned moment for handwashing before meals and the importance of washing hands is not emphasized. In 100% of schools there isn’t menstrual hygiene program dedicated to girls. The WaSH services for drinking water were evaluated as advanced in 50% of the schools in Anapolis because they were able to supply water from improved sources, in sufficient quantity, available and accessible to all when necessary and free from microbiologic contamination. In the other 50% of the schools examined, the services were considered basic due to water contamination by faecal coliforms. Regarding sanitation, 70% of the schools revealed a service that was considered as limited, because improved sanitary facilities exist, separated per gender, but sometimes they didn’t work properly, or they aren’t accessible for disable children. The level of hygiene service was considered limited in all schools because there were handwashing structures, but soap was not provided. The research showed that the coordinators of the schools are not aware of the importance of good management of the WASH services, in this sense, it will be necessary to hold a training course for them. In addition, soap dispensers will be installed in the bathrooms and a hygiene education program will be implemented in the schools of Anápolis.