JICA and EWTI Donate Hand Sanitizers to Protect School Children

As the fight against COVID-19 continues, JICA has taken further measures to protect school- children from infection, following the distribution of precaution posters made by Japanese volunteers and the donation of facemasks. This time, JICA donated hand sanitizer to schools in five sub-cities in Addis Ababa in collaboration with Ethiopian Water Technology Institute (EWTI).

Kindergartens and primary schools identified as having insufficient water supply for handwashing were selected in Arada, Bole, Gullele, Kirkos, and Kolfe-Keraniyo Sub-cities. The representatives of these schools received not only hand sanitizer but also instructions about proper hygiene practices with the sanitizer as well as its safe storage from EWTI's instructor.

Mr. Eyassu Guta, WaSH Program Officer at JICA Ethiopia, shared that "we need to transform the hygiene and safety instructions into behavioral change and make them second-nature to protect ourselves and loved ones ".

"Everything starts with educating and protecting our children and setting them on the right path. By donating the sanitizer and teaching materials we can have a long-lasting impact on our communities", said Dr. Tamene Hailu, Director General of EWTI at the handover ceremony.

JICA will be following up with the schools over the next several weeks to monitor and support their efforts.