Working Together to Improve Student Health

Mr. Touch Samith, the school director of Kanout Primary School in Kampong Speu province had a problem. His students were often getting sick, and they didn’t seem to understand the value of good hygiene to keep themselves healthy. He knew that if he could provide basic hygiene and sanitation material at his school, it would help to reduce the impact of disease and sickness among his students. 

He said, “Previously my school has no material for hygiene and hand cleaning activities for students. Another big issue facing us was water shortage in the dry season, so basic hygiene was not accessible or affordable for all students.”

 Mr. Touch also saw that there was poor hygiene and sanitation awareness in the community and he could not reach out to all villagers at the grassroot level. So he brought this matter to the school management committee, and they agreed to make a functioning plan and put it in the school development plan. With the agreement and support of the community, KPY partnered with them to construct a hand washing station at the school. KPY also worked with the community to get the cooperation and assistance from the Health Center to provide awareness and training on how to clean hands properly. This was very helpful for students and teachers for increasing hygiene and sanitation at the school. This was a big benefit to the school especially during the Covid-19 pandemic,  when hand washing is even more important to prevent illness. 

Mr. Touch said on behalf of his students, teachers and also the school management committee,  “I am proud and greatly thank KPY for helping us coordinate among all local partners to support my school to be able to construct this handwashing basin for all students.”