600 schools in Kisumu county have received 2,952 100 litre water tanks and treatment services courtesy of Impact Water Organization.
The NGO distributed the tanks to primary and secondary schools in all the eight sub-counties in Kisumu in a bid to improve hygiene by providing clean and safe drinking water to schools and consequently addressing the problem of waterborne diseases.
Lucy Owiti, an official from the organization, pointed out that many school-going children miss school due to constant illnesses occasioned by lack of safe drinking water.
Speaking during the water tank distribution exercise in Kisumu East, Owiti said the organization runs background checks on the institutions that benefit from the donation to ascertain if they deserve the facilities.
She added that the safe drinking water solutions they offer comprise of water purification methods like Aqua Tabs, Ultraflo and inlet systems.
Schools without piped water, which received Aqua Tabs, have to put a single chlorine tablet in the 100 litre water tanks.
For institutions with piped water connections sourced from water companies, rivers or rainwater, the organization installs the inlet system on the water meter to treat the in-flowing water.
Owiti revealed that the number of safe water tanks a school receives depends on the school’s population.
She noted further that the organization also creates awareness among the students and teachers about safe drinking water and hand-washing measures in schools.
She defended the organization’s move to invest in small capacity tanks, arguing that the smaller tanks are easier to clean compared to 1,000-litre tanks.
The organization has so far managed to reach over 32,000 schools in Kenya since its inception in 2013.
Emmanuel Otieno, the principal of Kibos Secondary School, lauded the initiative as timely, adding further that it will help a great deal in offering safe drinking water solutions to students and teachers.
Mercy Anyango, a pupil from Mbeme Primary School, noted happily that courtesy of the NGO, she can now get safe water to drink in school.
By Fredrick Odiero
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