Students of Ngari Primary School (NPS) in West Gizo, Western Province, will no longer need to use the seashore or nearby bushes for defecation.
This was after the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Solomon Islands officially handed over a new permanent ablution block, built for both girls and boys and equipped with single bathroom to the school on Tuesday 1st of October 2024.The ablution block was fully funded by ADRA Australia and implemented by ADRA SI through the Turn on the Tap (TOTT) Project.
The school Board, Administration, Guardians, the Principle, and the students expressed their appreciation to ADRA SI for the new ablution block.
The construction work began in May this year and was successfully completed in June 2024. The JK Mabuzu Rural Training Centre (RTC) Carpentry School in West Gizo was contracted to carry out the construction work following an agreement signed between ADRA TOTT Project and the school.
Minister for Health and Medical Services of WPG,Hon Kenneth George on behalf of WPG thanked ADRA Australia and ADRA Solomon Islands for the partnership effort to fund the new sanitation facility for Ngari Primary School.
He said WPG was continuing to address wash and sanitation across the province with other stakeholders but are not able to address all schools with the program and thanked ADRA SI as stakeholder for stepping in to fill some of these gaps.
He reminded students and staff of NPS and surrounding communities to respect the facility and take good care of it and can be used for others as well who will be coming after the current teachers and students.
ADRA SI Director, Mr. Leyn Elizer Gantare, who is currently in Western Province, officially handed over the new facility to the Ngari Primary School Administration. Speaking during the handover ceremony, ADRA SI Director, Leyn Elizer Gantare said the new sanitation project now belongs to the school, and they must take good care of it.
“This ablution block is now handed over for the school’s use, and it may be used by the Students, Teachers, and the nearby communities for the health purpose of the students and teachers, Ngari School in general, but also the nearby communities. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and it is important to keep your bodies, the school in general, and environment clean’’
‘’That is the purpose of this ablution block, to be used by the students. I urged school leaders and students to maintain the cleanliness of the facility to ensure the sustainability of the provided facility, Mr Gantare said.
The Health Minister of WGP also expressed something important during his speech Denver, please quote/include his name and short summary of his speech too.
Meanwhile Headmaster of Ngari Primary School, Mr. Eddie Sade, who received the key to the new ablution block on behalf of the school, expressed his gratitude to ADRA SI. “I would like to acknowledge ADRA SI and the TOTT project for fully funding this new ablution block, which we consider a blessing for our school. With 255 students currently enrolled, all coming from communities from Saeraghi to Paeloge, the new ablution block will benefit everyone’’
‘’The school had an ablution block before, it was unhygienic and inadequate for the students, who often resorted to using staff houses, bushes, or the seashore. Now, with this new ablution block, it’s a blessing for us. Our students will no longer need to use staff houses, bushes, or the seashore. This project comes at the right time for our school, and we are deeply thankful to ADRA SI for this wonderful initiative,” Mr. Sade added.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by notable figures including Mr. Kenneth George, Provincial Minister for Health and Medical Services of the Western Provincial Government; Mr. Willy Utupio, representative of the Western Provincial Education Provider; Mr. Davis Pitavoqa, United Church Education Provider Representative; Ms. Leanne Ghuena Bula, Principal of JK Mabuzu; primary school students, teachers, school leaders from Ngari Community High School and Primary School, as well as three chiefs from the Ngari Communities.
Ngari Primary School is currently operated and owned by the United Church (UC) Education Authority of Solomon Islands.
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ADRA Communication
