BY INDY MAEALASIA
A new initiative to enhance Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in selected schools around Honiara was launched yesterday.
The 18-month program titled “Urban Water Supply Sanitation Sector Program in Schools” will work closely with 11 schools and is expected to conclude in June 2026.
Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with an estimated budget of USD $400,000, the program is contracted through Solomon Water, with Plan International and Live and Learn acting as implementing partners. The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) is also a key partner.
Live and Learn’s WASH Coordinator, Fiona Laeta, shared with local media that the program will focus on both the software and hardware aspects of WASH.
“..that means it will cover teacher and student’s training, and improving WASH facilities in schools to improve access for sanitation and access to clean safe water,” Laeta explained.
Laeta emphasized that the program aims to go beyond simply providing basic WASH facilities.
“In our communities, hygiene is not really prioritized but it is very important way of addressing a lot of the diseases in our country…and the simple way we can address the matter is improving hygiene,” she noted.
Among the schools benefiting from the program is Norman Palmer School, Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) Education Secretary Desmond Waita took the opportunity to express his gratitude for the initiative.
“This project is beneficial specifically for Norman Plamer School…..Honiara’s population is increasing and there is a lot of students trying to get enrolled,”
He described it as a “blessing” as it will provide the necessary access for WASH facilities.
Selected schools, education providers, and other stakeholders participated in an inception workshop at Jina’s Restaurant where they were formally briefed on their roles and the expected outcomes of the initiative.
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