By Joy Onu
Students of Government Secondary School (GSS) Gosa, Airport Road, and Government Secondary School, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, have received a boost in sanitation and menstrual hygiene support following the renovation and commissioning of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities by the Child and Youth Protection Foundation (CYPF).
The intervention, carried out on Tuesday, forms part of CYPF’s initiative to improve hygiene infrastructure in schools across the Federal Capital Territory while promoting menstrual health awareness among female students.
Principal of GSS Gosa, Ahmed Hussaini, said the project has significantly eased sanitation challenges faced by the school, particularly the persistent problem of water supply and inadequate toilet facilities.
He explained that the poor condition of the previous toilets discouraged many students from using them, with some opting to go outside the school premises due to the unhygienic environment.
“The school really appreciates this recognition by CYPF because it will go a long way in alleviating many of the problems we have been facing,” he said, assuring that the management would ensure proper maintenance of the facility.
Similarly, the Senior Mistress (Administration) of the school, Adaora Nwokoye, described the project as a major improvement for the school community, especially for girls who require safe and hygienic facilities during school hours.
Programme Manager of CYPF, Jedidaya Osoba, described the intervention as an enlightening experience, noting that the WASH and menstrual hygiene project was designed to support the girl-child, reduce school absenteeism and address risks associated with lack of access to sanitary materials. He explained that schools have largely welcomed the initiative, with some even taking ownership by restocking sanitary materials independently, a development he said reflects sustainability and impact. Osoba added that CYPF will continue working with trained school ambassadors and teachers through step-down trainings, monitoring visits and pad bank restocking, while expanding the programme to other schools. He also commended the organisation’s sponsors, saying increased support would enable the foundation to reach more schools and deepen its intervention.
Students were visibly delighted with the new development, with Head Boy John Gaza and Sanitary Prefect Hassanah Jimoh calling on their peers to take responsibility for maintaining the facilities. John Gaza called for cleanliness and proper use of the toilets, while Hassanah Jimoh noted that before the renovation many students avoided the facilities due to their poor condition and often went outside the school premises. She added that the improved toilets would now encourage proper usage and urged girls to dispose of sanitary materials correctly to sustain hygiene standards.
At Government Secondary School, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the principal, Kelechukwu Julian Egeolu, said the renovation addressed long-standing sanitation concerns, noting that the previous facilities had been in use for over two decades.
Programme Manager of CYPF, Gladys Oche, said the organisation’s outreach combines sanitation infrastructure with menstrual hygiene education and the provision of sanitary materials through its “Pad Bank” initiative, adding that the programme has so far reached 11 schools in the FCT and continues to expand as resources become available.
She also expressed appreciation to the foundation’s sponsor, Mundi Cooperante, for supporting the initiative and helping CYPF extend hygiene education, sanitary materials and improved WASH facilities to schools and communities.
Beyond the commissioning of the remaining two WASH facilities, the intervention reflects a wider reality in public schools where access to safe sanitation remains a silent but persistent challenge affecting dignity, health and learning outcomes, particularly for the girl-child.
