According to UNICEF Liberia 2021 Country report (p. 2 of 8), progress on sanitation in Liberia has slowed since 2017. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services especially in schools and health-care facilities are either in a poor state or absent. Only around half of schools have WASH facilities, affecting school attendance, particularly of adolescent girls due to their need to manage menstrual hygiene.
Although the report indicated that the proportion of people practicing open defecation (OD) in Liberia dropped from 42 per cent to 38 per cent between 2017 and 2021, the number of people involved is still higher (1,899,060 in 2017 and 1,922,040 in 2021). This report also mentioned that unless key WASH sector challenges are resolved, the SDG goal for water and sanitation for Liberia by 2030 is unlikely to be achieved. (UNICEF Liberia Country Report 2021 _ RAM3 COAR.rdl (unicef.org) )
In response to the critical need for improved sanitation facilities in schools, our project, “Enhancing Sanitation in Schools through Donation of Sanitary Materials” aimed to enhance the hygiene standards of students by providing essential sanitary materials. CAP recognized that inadequate sanitation not only poses health risks but also hinders students’ ability to focus on their studies.
Through the generous donations of individuals and organizations, we seek to make a tangible difference in the lives of students by promoting better hygiene practices and increasing the chance of Liberia achieving the 2030 SDGs goal for water and sanitation.
Additionally, we have adopted USAID “Basic Guide for WASH-Friendly Schools” trainers’ manual to provide WASH capacity development for high school students to promote school health and safety.
