PESHAWAR June 1: With Unicef support, the NWFP government has established a centre for School Sanitation and Hygiene Education (SSHE). This was announced at an orientation workshop organised by the SSHE centre on Friday.

Given that suitable hygiene practices are necessary for the prevention of water and sanitation-related diseases, the centre will promote the sustainable use of related facilities in schools and disseminate hygiene education. Water and sanitation-related diseases are amongst the major causes of Pakistan’s high morbidity rate, and it is estimated that over 200,000 children under five years of age die annually due to diarrhoeal diseases.

Addressing participants, the director of the Provincial Institute for Teacher Education (PITE) NWFP, Eid Bad Shah, said that “the provision and maintenance of water and sanitation facilities is necessary to reduce the transmission of diseases.”

Dr Murtaza Malik, Unicef Water and Sanitation Officer, said that Unicef is supporting the government in hygiene promotion and the provision of water-sanitation facilities in schools in 31 districts.

“These facilities must be maintained properly,” he said. “School faculties and student bodies must be made aware of suitable hygiene practices.” According to Ashraf Ali, senior instructor, PITE, these include the proper disposal of excreta, safe water and protection of water sources, and personal, domestic and environmental hygiene.

Deputy Director PITE, Arif Ali, said that the centre will create a pool of trainers in school sanitation and hygiene education.

It will also train school administrators, pre-service and in-service teachers and parent-teacher associations.