September 2019

"Naa koy bata na karon sa Grade 4 nga dugay na sigeng absent…and one of the reasons kay wala siya ka eskwela kay tungod sa mikrobyo. [I had a Grade 4 student who was always absent and he said that one of the reasons he got sick is because of microbes],” recalled Teacher Antonia Everdida of Cantumog Elementary School in Carmen, Cebu.

For Teacher Everdida, communicable diseases such as colds and flu affect children’s attendance in schools, thus decreases their opportunity to learn and perform.

Last week, 500 school children from Bontoc, Mountain Province learned about the seven steps to proper handwashing and received hygiene kits through MWF's Health in Our Hands program. Benefitting schools include Mountain Province SPED Center and Bontoc Central School.

"Napakalaking impact talaga niyang [hygiene facility]. Hindi ko naisip na ganoon pala ang magiging outcome...Ang inisip ko 'yung rehab lang ng faucet--pati na rin pala 'yung roofing. Hindi lang 'yun, in-improve pa nila 'yung water connection...Ang gagamit kasi diyan is more on the intermediate--Grades 4, 5, and 6--kasi wala silang handwashing facility na available," said Mary Ann Andes, School Principal II of Longos Elementary School