BY INDY MAEALASIA

Vavalu Primary School in Central Guadalcanal marked World Toilet Day on Tuesday with the official opening of three newly upgraded toilet facilities, a historic milestone for the school.

This year’s global theme, “Toilets: A Place for Peace,” emphasized the importance of toilet facilities in promoting a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a pollution-free environment.

The new facilities include one male and two female Sato pan toilets, a low-cost hygienic latrine system designed for rural areas with minimal water usage. These upgrades were made possible through the Upscale WASH in Schools project, funded by the New Zealand Government and UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) and implementing partner Live & Learn Solomon Islands. The project aims to enhance sanitation and hygiene facilities in 19 schools across Guadalcanal.

Before these upgrades, the school faced serious challenges, including frequent diarrhea outbreaks and high absenteeism, especially among female students who lacked adequate facilities to manage menstruation.

Head Teacher Timothy Tangiavoa expressed optimism about the impact of the new facilities:
“With the use of these new facilities, we expect a significant reduction in health issues and absenteeism while providing a safe and pollution-free environment for our students,” he said.

The upgrades were met with strong support from the local community. Church elder John Wesley shared his joy, saying:
“It is good to support such changes. In the olden days, we did not have these facilities. This is important as it will contribute to long life, good health, and happiness for our children.”

Wesley also encouraged other communities across the country to support similar WASH projects to improve their lifestyles and environments.

Additionally, MPA for Vulolo Ward, Willy Dai, praised the school community for their initiative:
“I salute the community, church elders, school administration, and students. You did not rely on the national or provincial government; instead, you stood on your own feet and achieved this yourselves,” Dai remarked.
“I am proud that this school is setting an example for our ward and other parts of Guadalcanal,” he added.

Vavalu Primary School currently serves 137 students from Prep to Grade 6, with seven teachers catering to seven nearby villages.