Clinic visits for diarrhoea in a Kenyan school peaked during the January through March period in 2002 at 130 and in 2003 at 71, but in 2004, after project implementation, only 13 diarrhoea episodes were recorded. This is the result reported by researchers [1] from a pilot water treatment project in a school in rural Western Kenya in May 2003. To prevent diarrhoea they we implemented the Safe Water System (water treatment with bleach, safe storage, and behaviour-change communications) in 2000. Teachers taught students about safe water and hygiene. Safe water storage vessels were placed between classrooms. Two large water tanks for handwashing were positioned by the kitchen and latrines. The vessels were filled daily with water, which was treated with bleach and monitored for free chlorine residuals. Daily student care logs at the local clinic were reviewed. The project saved the school about 5.49 dollars per student per year. The project has been expanded to 70 schools, and a fuller evaluation is planned.

[1] Migele, J. ... [et al.] (2007). Diarrhea prevention in a Kenyan school through the use of a simple safe water and hygiene intervention. American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene ; .vol. 76, no. 2 ; p. 351-353. Abstract and more info

Web site: CDC - Safe Water System

Contact: Robert Quick, Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch, Mailstop A38, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, rxq1@cdc.gov

Tags: water quality, water-related diseases