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Ivan Zhakata Features Correspondent

A group handwashing facility which allows 10 pupils to wash their hands at once has been piloted at Prospect and Chipembere Primary Schools in Harare.

The new project will complement Government’s efforts to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in schools.

The group handwashing facility has a 1 000 litre tank, polymer of vinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and water points attached to it.

The project which was funded by UNICEF in partnership with Goal Zimbabwe and SAMS Marketing and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is set to be rolled out at all schools in Zimbabwe for the safety of learners.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at Prospect Primary School, acting deputy provincial education director responsible for primary schools in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Joram Mupunza, said group handwashing facilities will ensure learners receive their education in a safe environment.

“We are pleased that we continue to attract partners who are moving with us as we transform our education delivery systems in these times of emergencies,” he said.

“At the moment we are being ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic and still have other infections as well that are still amongst us. The coming in of Goal Zimbabwe, UNICEF and SAMS Marketing to donate this important handwashing facility will go a long way in keeping infections away from our schools.”

The facility, he added, proved to be serving the purpose and it will be rolled out to all the schools if the Ministry accepts its suitability.

He noted that handwashing is the first line of defence in preventing Covid-19.

“Without the sanitizers, with liquid soap, water and this facility our learners will be safe but we are saying sanitisers must always be there.”

Mr Mupunza said handwashing facilities remain important in fighting Covid-19 in schools across the country.

SAMS managing director Mr James Samhembere said they have been supplying schools with small buckets and drums, and this resulted in some pupils not washing their hands as water was not enough.

The group handwashing facilities, he revealed, came about as an intervention measure.

He said the bucket and drum handwashing facilities were difficult to monitor.

At some point, schools had to make sure that each and every child washed their hands twice or three times a day as they came and left school.

“With the group handwashing facility, 10 students can wash their hands at a time. We have positions that can allow for ECD up to Secondary level because the heights are different,” he said.

Mr Samhembere said 800 students can use the facility in less than 30 minutes.

“It is also easy to monitor, saves money in terms of the sanitisers, saves time and it is simple to construct and cheap as well. The facility is permanent and the only thing that can be replaced is the PVC pipe which can break if tempered with.”

Cindy Kushner, UNICEF chief of water, sanitization, hygiene (WASH) said they appreciate their partnership with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Goal Zimbabwe and SAMS Marketing in reducing the spread of Covid-19 in schools across the country.

“We are looking at the whole country, how handwashing can help in reducing Covid-19. Covid-19 is not the only problem we have and we need to be washing hands. Children when going to school and before eating must wash their hands,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of Goal Zimbabwe country director Ms Gabriella Prandini, gender advisor for Goal Zimbabwe Ms Thandolenkosi Sibindi said innovations like the handwashing facility will enable them to do more work in schools.

“Setting up handwashing facilities and making schools more safe for children is at heart and what we do as Goal Zimbabwe. We want the pupils to be free and safe as they open schools so that we at least we reduce the rate of infections of Covid-19 within schools,” she said.