WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE STATUS OF TWO PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EGOR LGA, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene status of two public Secondary Schools in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State. The study locations were Iyoba Girls’ College and Evbereke Secondary School in Egor. Water samples were analysed for physicochemical and microbiological quality adopting standard analytical techniques. Well-structured questionnaires were administered to 100 respondents from both schools to access their opinions on WASH practices. Physicochemical analysis revealed the chloride concentrations in tap and well water at Evbereke Secondary School were 17.75mg/l and 24.85mg/l respectively and at Iyoba girls college was 21.30mg/l and 17.75mg/l respectively. Biological Oxygen Demand in tap and well water from Evbereke Secondary School was 0.85mg/l and 0.23mg/l respectively and at Iyoba girls college was 0.70mg/l and 0.50mg/l respectively. Total heterotrophic bacterial counts (THBC) for tap and well water from Evbereke Secondary School was 9.5×10²cfu/ml and 2.5×10²cfu/ml respectively and at Iyoba Girls college was 7.5×10²cfu/ml and 2.5×10²cfu/ml respectively. Total heterotrophic fungal counts for tap and well water from Evbereke Secondary School was 3.0×10²cfu/ml and 0.5×10²cfu/ml respectively and at Iyoba Girls college was 4.5×10²cfu/ml and 1.0×10²cfu/ml respectively. Most probable number (MPN) of bacteria in tap and well water samples from Evbereke Secondary School was 2MPN/100ml and 14MPN/100ml respectively. and at Iyoba Girls College was 2MPN/100ml and 6MPN/100ml respectively. Microbiological analysis revealed the presence of both bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus sp. and Shigella sp.) and fungi (Aspergillus niger, Mucor sp., Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus flavus) isolates in water samples collected from the study locations. Evaluation of WASH practices revealed that there are limited number of toilet facilities present at both locations, with Evbereke Secondary School having more toilet facilities than Iyoba girls college. WASH practices will help to foster a safer and healthier learning environment for students, thus checkmating the transmission of infections and preserving personal hygiene of the students.