Audio By Carbonatix
Over 2.5 million pupils in Ghana have no access to clean water. This means, quite a lot of these students get sick and cannot go to school. In Zabzigu in the Northern region, 15-year old Shafahatu Majed takes water home from school almost everyday.
The borehole at school is the only safe source of drinking water for her family. Before the borehole’s construction last year, Shafahatu says it would take her about an hour to go to the riverside to fetch water everyday.
“Sometimes by the time we would get to school it would be break time, my marks were very low then. I would sometimes get 30 percent on tests. Now with the borehole I can concentrate on school and I am doing well again.”
Pupils like Shafahatu usually get their source of drinking water straight from the riverside, they would not treat the water which would sometimes make them sick.
Headmaster of the school, Collins Norgbetsi says more than 60 percent of the students would not come to school then. He even became affected by guinea worm disease himself, from bad water.
For Shafahatu it was not until UNICEF came to her school before she learned the importance of proper hand washing and purifying water.
“As soon as I learned about it, I went home to tell my parents and now they also do same”
Now, Shafahatu and some of her mates lead the health club at the Rajia EA JHS, teaching colleagues and sometimes residents of the community, the importance of good hygiene practices.
Most of the other pupils at Shafahatu’s school, also bring containers to fetch water home after lessons because the water is safer.
Two problems have been solved for this community in Zabzugu; the incidence of water borne diseases, and access to safe drinking water.
But for many other Ghanaians these problems still exist.
This is why UNICEF hopes to give over 62 thousand students like Shafahatu, in the Northern region access to safe water by 2016.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana is rising again – Mahama declares
20 minutes -
Firefighters subdue blaze at Accra’s Tudu, officials warn of busy fire season ahead
52 minutes -
New Year’s Luv FM Family Party in the park ends in grand style at Rattray park
56 minutes -
Mahama targets digital schools, universal healthcare, and food self-sufficiency in 2026
1 hour -
Ghana’s global image boosted by our world-acclaimed reset agenda – Mahama
1 hour -
Full text: Mahama’s New Year message to the nation
1 hour -
The foundation is laid; now we accelerate and expand in 2026 – Mahama
2 hours -
There is no NPP, CPP nor NDC Ghana, only one Ghana – Mahama
2 hours -
Eduwatch praises education financing gains but warns delays, teacher gaps could derail reforms
2 hours -
Kusaal Wikimedians take local language online in 14-day digital campaign
3 hours -
Stop interfering in each other’s roles – Bole-Bamboi MP appeals to traditional rulers for peace
3 hours -
Playback: President Mahama addressed the nation in New Year message
4 hours -
Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union call for strong work ethics, economic participation in 2026 new year message
5 hours -
Crossover Joy: Churches in Ghana welcome 2026 with fire and faith
5 hours -
Traffic chaos on Accra–Kumasi Highway leaves hundreds stranded as diversions gridlock
6 hours
