By Bakah Derick
All Saints Billingual Nursery and Primary School Bayelle-Nkwen Bamenda has received a modern borehole water source and a toilet facility being a donation of Strategic Humanitarian Services SHUMAS Cameroon. The institution officially received the donation on Wednesday 2 February 2022 during an event attended by local administrative authorities, parents, members of neighbouring communities and the visibly satisfied pupils.
The donations realised by SHUMAS Cameroon and partner Building Schools for Africa-UK have been described as timely following the increase in the number of pupils as a result of the ongoing armed conflict in the region, the covid-19 pandemic and a threatening cholera outbreak.
According to the representatives of the school, the initial water source had become too small to meet the needs of the growing population that has gone from a previewed 800 to over 1800 pupils. The pupils like staff they said were subjected to search for water from doubtful sources exposing them to water born diseases. The school faced a similar challenge with toilet facilities made up of just three compartments without any separation in respect of gender.
Following a request made by the Religious Sisters of St Ann who also add it in the running of the school, the Director General of SHUMAS Cameroon, Nformi Ndzerem Stephen Njodzeka says his institution saw the need to assist.
"SHUMAS goes in for those who are in greater need. As you heard from the speeches, the initialfacilities were meant for about 600-800 children but because of the crisis and the safe nature of Bayelle, the population has risen to more than double.... When we came following an invitation, we realised that it was just a small three compartment toilet that was serving over 1800 children and then as we went round we saw faeces all around the place and we could feel the need." He said
"For the water, we saw one small borehole at the Parish house which is serving the Parish, serving the over 1800 children, serving the secondary school and that is how SHUMAS and partner Building Schools for Africa immediately took the decision to solve the problems. You see the problem of Cholera, you see that of covid-19 and so we concluded that if we didn't solve this problem immediately, the lives of these children including those of the secondary school raising the total to about 2500 beneficiaries will be at stake." The SHUMAS Cameroon Director explained while urging the beneficiaries to use them with care so many more can benefit in future.
The complete donation comprise of water borehole, Tank Stand, a stand tap and a six compartment VIP Gender Segregated toilet block with hand washing facilities.
On behalf of the Archbishop of Bamenda, the school Manager and Parish Priest Rev Fr Zuzeko Valentine corroborating the Head Teacher, Pupils and Parents representatives expressed gratitude to SHUMAS Cameroon for the timely intervention say the donations will be a great source of relief.
Started in 1993, SHUMAS is a development Non Governmental Organization focused on integrated sustainable rural development. Legalised in 1997, SHUMAS in 2013 was granted the status of a Non Governmental Organisation. The Bamenda headquartered charity currently has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Picture at toilet handwash tap.
The organisation works in the areas of health, education, water and sanitation, social welfare, environmental protection and management, women empowerment, agriculture and volunteering. To benefit from their projects, the need must be expressed by the community after which she establishes the degree of need and decides in a nondiscriminatory manner to fund.
Originally written for the Guardian Post Daily