Kabul – Finland has contributed two million euro (around 2.4 million dollars) to a UNICEF programme to provide Afghan children and families with safe water, Sanitation and Hygiene, a statement said on Thursday.
“The flexible grant is part of Finland’s continued commitment to Afghanistan, following a previous grant of similar size that provided gender-separated toilets, handwashing facilities and menstrual hygiene management that benefited 55,000 students in 102 schools
“Improvements in water and sanitation facilities in schools have a positive impact on attendance, quality of learning and well-being of students, especially girls,” the statement read.
Hannu Ripatti, ambassador of Finland to Afghanistan, said “we are happy to continue supporting the UNICEF water, sanitation and hygiene programme that provides concrete results for women and children in line with National Priorities.’’
Adele Khodr, UNICEF representative in Afghanistan, said that the encouragement of handwashing with soap in schools, and the use of clean water and sanitary environments, could help to prevent diarrhea.
“Washing hands with soap can reduce diarrhea by up to 42 per cent and is one of the most cost effective ways to prevent cases and the subsequent onset or worsening of stunting and malnutrition.’’
More than 9.5 million Afghan children with around 40 per cent of them being girls attend 15,000 schools across the country, while over 3.5 million school age children have no access to education due to poverty, conflicts and insurgency, according to education officials.
has contributed two million euro (around 2.4 million dollars) to a UNICEF programme to provide Afghan children and families with safe water, Sanitation and Hygiene, a statement said on Thursday.
“The flexible grant is part of Finland’s continued commitment to Afghanistan, following a previous grant of similar size that provided gender-separated toilets, handwashing facilities and menstrual hygiene management that benefited 55,000 students in 102 schools
“Improvements in water and sanitation facilities in schools have a positive impact on attendance, quality of learning and well-being of students, especially girls,” the statement read.
Hannu Ripatti, ambassador of Finland to Afghanistan, said “we are happy to continue supporting the UNICEF water, sanitation and hygiene programme that provides concrete results for women and children in line with National Priorities.’’
Adele Khodr, UNICEF representative in Afghanistan, said that the encouragement of handwashing with soap in schools, and the use of clean water and sanitary environments, could help to prevent diarrhea.
“Washing hands with soap can reduce diarrhea by up to 42 per cent and is one of the most cost effective ways to prevent cases and the subsequent onset or worsening of stunting and malnutrition.’’
More than 9.5 million Afghan children with around 40 per cent of them being girls attend 15,000 schools across the country, while over 3.5 million school age children have no access to education due to poverty, conflicts and insurgency, according to education officials.