According to the Kenya National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance by the WHO, in 2015, annual surveillance data from in-patients at the Kenya National Hospital in Nairobi showed multidrug resistance and extensive drug resistance levels among all pathogens analyzed were 88% and 26% respectively. The study also reported high levels of non-susceptibility of some pathogens (E.coli, K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus) to commonly used antibiotics (see below).
| E.coli | K.pneumoniae | S.aureus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penicillins | 52%-92% | 67%-73% | 55-97% |
| Cephalosporins | 57%-80% 64%-84% | 30% |
Anti Microbial Resistance (AMR) places immense strain on a country’s health systems (Universal Health Care notwithstanding) due to the high morbidity (recurrence) of preventable diseases that can easily be prevented with proper sanitation.
Simply put, it would cost far less to ensure all schools have adequate sanitation than to treat children for recurring preventable diseases that are increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
WASH4Schools is a platform that provides insights into appropriate sanitation systems for different school contexts. Though not exhaustive in its analysis and recommendations, the site highlights the different types of sanitation solutions available to address the socio-economic and environmental challenges schools face in choosing the best sanitation solution unique to their circumstances.
WASH4Schools aims to provide school WASH stakeholders and funders (who are often conservative in their WASH decision-making) with a broader and comprehensive perspective on available solutions for sanitation in schools.
It would cost far less to invest in holistic sanitation in schools that to keep treating school pupils for recurring diseases
The provision of adequate sanitation in schools has numerous advantages:
- Improved Physical and Mental Health
Proper hygiene curbs the spread of communicable diseases. It further improves student well-being, school attendance, and attention span. - Female Empowerment and Gender Balance
The lack of space spaces for girls experiencing their menses in schools is a major contributor to girls’ absenteeism. Adequate, segregated sanitation blocks in schools significantly boost consistency in school attendance. - Dignity, Higher Motivation, and Safety for All
Sanitation is a basic human right (SDG 6.2 – access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene) and leads to higher self-esteem, motivation, and security for the end users. - Better Education Outcomes
Adequate sanitation improves school attendance and overall health, reduces stunting and brain impairments, and ultimately improves academic performance. - Positive Impact on Community and Environment
Improved sanitation positively impacts the entire community – it starts with the behavioral change in an individual, household, and eventually the community. Safely managed human waste also reduces water pollution and the resulting environmental impact. - Every $1 invested realizes $5.50 of positive impact
Investing in sanitation has high positive impacts. A WHO study in 2012 revealed that for every $1 invested in sanitation, $5.50 is realized in lower health costs, improved productivity, and fewer premature deaths. We would gain at least $143 billion in economic value annually thanks to reduced disease-related workplace absenteeism, a better-educated populace, higher wages, reduced water pollution, and efficient water use.