Students including the management of Dr. John Garang Memorial Secondary School in Torit, Eastern Equatoria expressed gratitude as latrines have been constructed and handed over to the school.
Earlier in August some students voiced out to Radio Emmanuel that the school lacks toilets which made it difficult for them to cope with such unhealthy mechanisms; especially the female students who opted to stay home because of lack of hygiene measures.
The girls who managed to attend classes would use nearby bushes to help themselves in case of emergency.
Viola Inyieh Angelo, a Senior Four student expressed happiness that they are now comfortable since the latrine was handed over to the school.
She appreciated the committee that contributed to the development of their school.
“By the time we don’t have a latrine actually we are feeling bad, especially as the students we are not having a place to help ourselves. Due to our new latrine now we are very happy now in our school and we are feeling comfortable now. First of all I would like to appreciate the committee that contributed for the development of our school, so my message is that you have to contribute again and again to make our school the best not only our school alone but even the other school” Inyieh voiced.
Another student, Lucky Ayella Oyet, says they now feel relieved from striving to search for where to ease themselves while at school.
He thanked the well-wishers for the support rendered to the school.
“We are feeling somehow relieved from going to the bush to go and defecate there because since they have repaired this latrine and they have built it is now okay. We are now feeling we are really in the school and we are now enjoying life in the school also. So for those who supported us we really give them thanks and appreciate them for what they did, let them keep up that spirit and may God also keep on blessing them”, said Ayella.
Gideon Cholong Ataba, Head teacher of Dr. John Garang Memorial Secondary Schools says currently the school has two latrine blocks; one handed over by INTERSOS through Torit Municipality and the other constructed by the school itself.
He raises concern that the two latrine blocks are not enough as the school has a large number of students.
“The issue of latrine is okay, the municipality handed us the latrine which is within our compound, the one in the field playing ground and we have constructed another one for teachers both male and female teachers. We have about four doors and one wash room for the students, the teachers have two doors, one for male and the other one for female teachers. It was handed over by INTERSOS last month. We have about 700 students but that number is not enough but we need more to be constructed”, the director appealed.
The Head teacher appeals to the neighbourhood to use the latrines well, cautioning those grazing animals in the school compound to be careful.
“We want the public to cooperate with us, those one who are residing around if they want to go and use nobody can refuse during the classes time, they can go and use but put everything in order and even the cows those who are moving around destroying the fences and destroying pipe for the toilet, so let them keep the cows far from the school compound”, he advised.
The speakers made their remarks to Radio Emmanuel on Monday in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State.