Comparative analysis of school-based wash facilities, implications on children behaviours and health coupled with a policy framework for enhancing cognitive learning in children

Abstract

United Nations Sustainable Goals. 06 emphasis on unbiased and even access of water and basicwater sanitation and health sciences (WASH) facilities but, relentless reality is polar oppositewhere a stellar portion especially children are devoid of necessity facilities, especially inPakistan. The most vulnerable group i-e children deprived of WASH facilities. The mainobjective of the study was, a WASH survey was conducted in two school settings i.e., Mehranand Sindh primary schools, using 100 forms comprising 21 Closed-ended questions directlylinked with WASH facilities. The response was gathered from both boys and girls to maintainequity. Survey questionnaires are drafted as per international guild lines. The survey focusedmainly on four dimensions: Handwashing, toilet, drinking water facilities, and Hygienepractice showing average (%) responses of boys to girls as 17.4:20.3, 29:14.6, 33.6:21, and20.6:25.8, respectively showed the condition of mentioned dimensions improved in MehranSchool rather than that of Sindh School. Bacteria were observed in water samples under aFluorescence microscope that confirmed the presence of various bacteria species namely:Shigella, Escherichia coli, Vibrio, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, Staphylococcus spp.Conclusively, there is a dire need to upgrade the WASH policy parallel to current scenario andneed of society to lessen the severity of the problems, especially children facing in developingcountry like Pakistan.