MICHAEL N
Public urged to embrace sanitation as West End Modern SS – Nyamunuka engages in community cleanliness drive.
West End Modern Secondary School in Nyamunuka today took part in cleaning Nyamunuka Town Council, aiming at promoting sanitation and raising community awareness about preventing disease outbreaks caused by living in dirty areas. The cleaning exercise involved school teachers, students, and the Uganda Red Cross Society.
Speaking to student leaders of West End Modern SS during the cleaning session around town, led by Ritah Nabimanya, the Head Girl, and Ian Agaba, the Head Prefect, they acknowledged that the charity drive aimed at sensitizing the community that cleanliness helps to fight disease outbreaks such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid among community members. They said when such diseases break out, the public spends a lot of money on treatment. They therefore appealed to leaders and the business community in Nyamunuka Town Council to embrace community cleaning and organize specific days to clean hotspot areas like trenches and shrubs.
The Red Cross Society, led by Isaac Akadwanaho, stressed that engaging in such activities together with schools and communities helps to reduce garbage and disease outbreaks. He said most communities have abandoned community work commonly known as “Burungi bwa’nsi” and “nyanga oburofa.” Isaac said there is a need to improve trench cleaning in town, as many are filled with unpleasant rubbish.
The Headteacher of West End Modern SS, Samuel Niwasasira, stressed that partnering with the Red Cross Society aimed at sensitizing the community on health, showing love for their country, and giving back to the community, not only focusing on classroom teaching by the school or blood donation by the Uganda Red Cross.
Furthermore, Samuel stressed that during this holy period of Ramadan, which emphasizes charity work, the school decided to promote health through general cleanliness of the town. He said the activity was free of charge, as no student was paid any money to participate. He added that it also teaches students to help their communities by cleaning water sources like wells, springs, and other shared places to reduce disease outbreaks and demonstrate love for their country.
Yasin Byamukama Katafa, Mayor-elect, and Monday Abudurazizi, residents of Nyamunuka Town Council, expressed their happiness over the health initiative carried out by the school, revealing that it has reduced garbage, empty bottles, and polythene papers in town. They appealed to the school and other schools around town to emulate this initiative and always seek opportunities to sensitize and educate the public about health.
