Restoring child dignity through WASH in schools: an urban study of Kiddawalime Primary School, Kampala

Kiddawalime is a community primary school located in Lubya Parish, Kampala. In 2009 Kiddawalime had 570 pupils from low income households and a dilapidated, four-stance, sex disaggregated latrine used by both students and teachers and no hand washing facilities. With no source of safe water, relying on a swamp shared with neighboring communities, poor health led to high rates of absenteeism, poor performance and high expenditure on health care. In mid-2010, the student population had dropped from 570 to 380. With continued withdrawal of pupils by parents and the threat of closure by the Municipal Public Health department the Education Officer advised the school authorities to seek CIDI’s intervention given its work and reputation with WASH initiatives. This paper outlines the impact of this intervention on the students and the greater community, and how the success at one school can act as a model for other school in the District.