Environmental research

The proposed School Sanitation and Hygiene (SSH) pilot project will focus on of the most vulnerable sub-population in Botswana, primary schools learners in northwest Botswana in Ngamiland District, where the Okavango Delta is located (Figure 1). The Okavango River water is known to be exceptionally clean because it is filtered in the floodplains and marshes (Wolski et al 2005). However, of particular concern is the fact that 53.7% of Ngamiland residents do not have a toilet at all.(Masamba, 2010). Open defecation is not unusual within school environments. The situation is compounded by low number of toilets/number of learners ratios in most primary schools. Consequently poorly managed fecal loads in and outside the schools is a health hazard to individual learners, households and communities and is likely to compromise the integrity of the Delta ecosystem. Recent assessment of water quality of the Okavango Delta at Mohembo for example, indicated that the Ecoli bacteria are very high in water probably as a result of rampant open defecation in specific pressure points (Masamba, 2010). Water contamination increases the risk of infectious gastro-intestinal diseases to which children are particularly vulnerable. Therefore, provision of appropriate sanitation technologies and promotion of good hygiene practices, will create an environment that is conducive to learning, cannot be overemphasized.

Botswana