Health indeed is vital for whole wellness of children.

In 2014, water, sanitation and health (WaSH) became integral component of the Tahderiyyah Program implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) supported by the DFAT Australia (then AusAiD) and in partnership with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

As part of its implementation, WaSH facilities in 656 Tahderiyyah centers across the seven regions of BDA are underway to provide pupils of better access on health.

Out of the 656 centers targeted for this program, 375 were already constructed where children do regular health activities such as hand washing and brushing of teeth.

These facilities include lavatory for hand washing and brushing of teeth, sanitation facility or comfort rooms and water system.

According to Engr. Samera Monib, project operations officer of the program, Tahderiyyah teachers supervised the children in doing these daily hygienic activities.

“Those teachers were trained on proper hand washing and tooth brushing to ensure that pupils will learned the standard procedure,”Engr. Monib said.

Parents ‘counterpart

Support of parents is significant in the implementation of this program.

Engr. Monib related that parents were oriented of the importance of the program to the health of their children. This resulted to the success of the program where significant number of facilities were already constructed.

“The program only provides 30% of the amount for the construction of these facilities and the remaining came from parents and the community, which we consider a success for the program,”she added.

Hygiene kits

Part also of the program is the distribution of hygiene kits for children.

The kit included toothbrush, toothpaste and bath soap.

Children use these in their daily health activities which became part of their regular Tahderiyyah class.

Information materials

In support to the information dissemination on proper hand washing and brushing of teeth, information materials were produced, distributed and displayed in WaSH facilities established in the Tahderiyyah centers.

Through this, children have direct reference and information on how to perform the activities accordingly.

A Single Drop for Safe Water (ASDSW) is also a partner of the agency as service provider on capacity building.