By Job Bolloh
Did you know that more than 80 percent of people in Niger live in rural areas, and about three-quarters of them lack access to clean drinking water? Unfortunately, women and girls bear the heaviest brunt of this water scarcity.
Women and girls are usually forced to walk for several hours just to fetch water from contaminated wells or rivers. These treacherous trips make it less likely for girls to go to school.
The Connection Between Water and Education
Access to clean water and education are two critical essentials for human development. They may appear distinct, but these two aspects of life have an intrinsic connection. These two are like the magic wands that people need to will their future back into their hands.
In fact, by the time kids clear school, they will have unlimited opportunities. However, this is only possible when clean water is accessible, particularly for young girls. Unfortunately, evidence links menstruation to girls dropping out of school. Such aspects stress the need for clean water access even more. But what exactly does clean water do for girls’ education?
- Clean Water Reduces School Absenteeism
Access to clean water lowers school absenteeism among girls. In most regions in Niger, children, mostly girls, are tasked with fetching water for their families. The task is physically demanding and time-consuming.
The task requires girls to walk long distances only to find contaminated rivers or wells. As such, contaminated water causes illness and 443 million lost school days per year worldwide. The availability of clean water sources in school lowers absentia and increased attendance results in increased future opportunities.
- Clean Water Improves Menstrual Hygiene and Health
UN Women Africa estimates that about 50 percent of the women in Niger practice poor menstrual hygiene. Insufficient water, sanitation, and hygiene items, especially in public spaces such as schools and health centers, create a huge barrier for women and girls.
There is a lack of sufficient separate toilets with doors that can be safely locked. Additionally, the absence of the means to get rid of used sanitary towels and water to clean hands puts women and girls at a challenge in maintaining their menstrual hygiene within a private, safe, and dignified setup.
- Clean Water Breaks the Gender Barrier
As earlier observed, girls experience a unique challenge in their attempt to access education. Their effort is hampered by household chores and fetching water, which limits their time for school.
Providing clean water and sanitation in schools will tear down this gender barrier. Evidence supports the idea that girls are more likely to attend school with access to clean water and sanitation. Just like education, water is an issue of gender equality.
In our effort to drill clean water wells across Niger, Wells Bring Hope recognizes the symbiotic relationship that exists between the availability of clean water and the education of girls. Improving one unlocks the other, resulting in a flood of opportunities for women and girls. The increased access to clean water results in healthier, more prosperous communities with more time to spare for economic activities rather than fetching water.
Sources
https://africa.unwomen.org/en/menstrual-hygiene-management-in-niger-from-silence-to-empowerment
https://www.unicef.org/wca/stories/easy-access-water-promotes-school-attendance-nigeria
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13600818.2021.1965978
