The Rhineland-Palatinate/Rwanda partnership office has set up the “corona fund” to implement a project to install 22 handwashing facilities in schools. The aim is to help in the prevention of covid-19.
Before the start of the school year, 15 handwashing facilities had already been built in the twinned schools with those in Rhineland-Palatinate. “We have already completed 15 handwashing facilities in schools according to the standards of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC),” said Allen Mugisha Nzitonda, construction project manager at the Rhineland-Palatinate/Rwanda “Jumelage” Office.
“For schools that expressed their request late, construction work on handwashing facilities sometimes started after classes resumed,” added Allen Mugisha Nzitonda.
This is the case of Groupe Scolaire Mburabuturo, where work to build a handwashing infrastructure has just been completed. “The children who used to pass through the entrance of the neighbouring church to wash their hands will now go back to the main entrance of the school because they no longer need to use the infrastructure of the Presbyterian Church,” said Mathias Sindayigaya, headmaster of this school with a total of about 1,200 students.
Sindayigaya reports that five taps have been installed, two of which can be used for younger children or children living with disabilities. In addition, “Jumelage” has provided materials for coronavirus prevention. “Each teacher has received a sanitizer to protect themselves and avoid contaminating the children,” reveals director Sindayigaya.
The children will go back to the main entrance of the school as they can wash their hands within the school.
He adds that gloves and masks were also given to employees. An isolation room has been set up and thermo-flashes for taking temperatures are also available. All this with the support of the Rhineland-Palatinate/Rwanda “Jumelage”.
According to Allen Mugisha Nzitonda, the coronavirus protection kit has been distributed to 90% of schools in the “Jumelage” partnership. “The remaining 10% did not need it,” said Mugisha Nzitonda.
Each handwashing facility has taps with sensors and only one that works mechanically. The cost of one unit is around 2.5 million Rwandan francs. This funding comes jointly from the” Jumelage” Office (80%) and the German partner of the school located in Rwanda, which contributes 20% of the project cost.
A total of 22 handwashing facilities have been built, including 6 in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools, 1 center for people living with disabilities and 1 center for Education and Child Development (EDC).
Classrooms have been built in the schools…
Despite the presence of coronavirus, 32 construction project contracts have been signed and 19 have already been completed. Allen Mugisha Nzitonda who heads the construction department says that 4 classrooms have been built and a water tank installed at Kiremera Primary School in Kanzenze sector, Rubavu district, in the Western Province.
In the same province, Groupe Scolaire Saint Bonaventure de Bunyenga, located in Nyabitekeri sector, Nyamasheke district, has benefited from 4 classrooms, a latrine block and a water tank. The work is still in progress.
The “Jumelage” Office has also built 3 classrooms, an office, a block of latrines and installed 2 water tanks in the South, precisely at the primary school of Kagunga. This is in the Ntyazo sector, Nyanza district.
At Mukore School Group, Musebeya sector, Rutsiro district, 3 classrooms and a latrine block are under construction.
In addition to the classrooms, a water supply and electrification project has been carried out for the benefit of the Ruhunga Primary School, Ngororero sector, Ngororero district. “An electric power transformer has been installed close to the school and provides power not only to the school but also to the surrounding population,” said Nzitonda.
Construction projects planned since 2019 have been carried out without meeting the deadline. Containment has delayed the start of the work. In addition, the limitation of the number of workers (50%) on the sites was added to the gradual resumption of activities, which did not allow progress to be made at the desired pace.
Gérard Rugambwa
