The learners of Rebonwe Primary School in Ivory Park’s Extension Seven promised to keep their toilets clean and to follow proper hand-washing directions for their good health.
They made this commitment on World Toilet Day (November 19) when their school was visited by representatives of the Gauteng Provincial Office of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Life 4 U Foundation and other stakeholders.
World Toilet Day is a United Nations programme that promotes proper toilet hygiene.
DWS’s deputy director for water sector support, Fikile Mokonoto, urged the learners to be responsible whenever they used toilets, to avoid blockages and spillage.
“There are three things that should go into your toilets and nothing else. Those are urine, faeces and toilet paper. Nothing else should be put into toilets,” said Mokonoto.
Mokonoto demonstrated the six steps to follow when washing hands.
She emphasised that hands should be washed before eating and after using the toilet. She added that one should always use soap and running water.
The founder of Life 4 U Foundation, Simon Molekwa, said the organisation aims to draw people’s attention to toilet hygiene and washing of hands, which some people take for granted.
“Life 4 U Foundation’s Wash 4 Life campaign’s primary objective is to reduce the incidence of water- and sanitation-related diseases and sicknesses, and to protect children and youth rights by ensuring that they use clean working toilets and that they learn about washing,” said Molekwa.
Grade Five learner Karabo Malatji was glad to learn about the importance of using soap.
“We usually wash our hands, but in most cases we do not use soap. But today I know that when washing my hands, I must always use soap and keep our toilets clean so that we prevent germs from spreading and making us sick,” said Malatjie.
Mbali Radebe, who is in Grade Two, said she would always keep her toilets and home clean, to avoid falling sick.
Principal Simon Tlhabana gave a thumbs-up to the visit.
“We are grateful that our school has been visited so that this kind of information is shared with our learners. I am sure that today they know much more than they did before about the important role of toilets and washing of hands,” Tlhabana said.
