Good Neighbours International pledges to promote hygiene

Good Neighbours International (GNI), an international non-governmental organisation, which is implementing some projects in Kasungu, Malawi, has reiterated its efforts in making sure that all primary school students are practicing body hygiene, for their wellbeing.

The organisation is encouraging pupils to keep healthy mouths by cleaning and taking good care of their teeth.

Speaking during the opening of the Oral Health Week at Chambwe Primary School, in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Chambwe, the GNI Project Coordinator in Kasungu, Adams Lupale, said the children who hold the future of the nation have to remain healthy.

‘The learners are expected to be doing well in class as their bodies would remain strong, henceforth reducing absenteeism in class. We want to see children help themselves in the cleaning and taking good care of their teeth. A take home package would be provided which includes tooth paste and tooth brushes on this journey they had embarked on as we would like to see them achieve oral health standards’, Lupale said.

The project coordinator also said that almost 1,500 primary school children from two schools, Chambwe and Chasato Primary Schools, are expected to benefit from the campaign of promoting oral health amongst primary school students.

‘The campaign is aimed to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and also promote awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of looking after oral hygiene especially amongst the children’, he said.

In her remarks, the Deputy District Education Manager (DDEM), Evelyn Mjima, thanked GNI for its interventions in the education sector, its promotion of hygiene standards which has made the beneficiaries enjoy each passing day as their oral health has improved.

‘The Ministry of Education is grateful for Good Neighbours’ efforts in making sure that our learners are practicing oral hygiene standards which involve brushing of their teeth with recommended tooth paste each passing day. Not us alone but such collaborative efforts would improve our education standards, there also promoting health standards amongst children’, she explained.

GNI-Malawi is an international humanitarian and developmental organisation which implements community developmental programmes on child health, education, water and sanitation and income generating activities.

In Kasungu district, T/A’s Wimbe and Chambwe are benefiting from GNI-Malawi which is implementing a 10-year project in the said sectors. Under the education sector, in T/A Chambwe, so far it has built school blocks and teachers houses at Chasato Primary school and has assured people of the organisation’s total commitment towards a better Malawi for all.