Brains start in bathrooms, not just books

MANYARA: AS DAWN breaks over the hills of Babati in the Manyara Region, the sounds of a new day begin to emerge, roosters crow, the hum of motorbikes (bodaboda) fills the air, and groups of pupils and students in school uniforms make their way to schools, as the hustle and bustle of morning life unfolds around them.

Amid this busy morning scene, the future of every child is being quietly shaped not only through those hustles and bustle but through something far more essential including good health.

Behind every strong, curious, and active child lies a foundation built not just on love and learning, but on health right from the womb to the first years of life.

Yet, in many communities, this foundation is often shaky. Nutrition is inadequate and sanitation is poor as a result thousands of children begin life at a disadvantage, malnourished, vulnerable to disease, and stunted in growth and development.

Experts agree that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life from conception to age two (2 years) are a golden window for setting the path to lifelong health.

This means proper hygiene, clean environments, regular check-ups, and emotional support must be prioritised.

However, creating a healthy start for children is not the sole responsibility of clinics and doctors but it requires a collective effort from the entire community.

It begins with mothers who provide nutritious meals, teachers who instill habits like handwashing and extends to local leaders who work to improve access to clean water and healthcare services.

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Every individual has a role to play in laying the foundation for a child’s healthy future. In addressing the challenges related to heath, the country is implementing the National Multisector Early Childhood Development Programme (NMECDP) 2021/22 – 2025/26, focusing on various interventions including good health for children aged 0-8 years.

A follow-up on the NMECDP conducted by education stakeholders in 2024 in Babati shows 68.2 per cent of the schools visited were found to lack safe toilets for pre-primary pupils.

The study, which was conducted in 16 schools, revealed that although the schools had toilets, they were not suitable for promoting good health among children.

Furthermore, out of the 16 schools visited, only 5 were found to have toilets specifically designed for early childhood (pre-primary) pupils.

This lack of pupilsfriendly sanitation infrastructure poses a serious threat to the health and well-being of young learners, increasing their vulnerability to infections and other hygiene-related illnesses.

The situation triggered the stakeholders to emphasise an urgent need for improved health and sanitation services in schools, particularly for early childhood education centres, to ensure that children can grow and learn in safe, healthy environments.

In an interview with Daily News Babati Hospital Health Officer Mariam Msangi said there is still work to be done to ensure that schools remain safe spaces.

To that end, she implores on development stakeholders to support government efforts in ensuring that child-friendly toilets are constructed in pre-primary schools to promote hygiene and safeguard children’s health.

She noted that the Council has been conducting regular inspections in schools and childcare centres within Babati Town Council to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

“The daycare centres that do not comply with health guidelines are issued warnings. For those that completely fail to meet the required standards, we shut them down,” she says.

Ms Msangi also reminds teachers of their responsibility to ensure that health procedures and hygiene protocols are followed within school premises so that schools remain safe for both learners and educators.

“A child who goes to the toilet and does not wash their hands properly doesn’t pose a health risk only to themselves…teachers are at risk too, because they share various items like exercise books with the pupils,” she says.

She adds: “Cleanliness is everything. If a child is not healthy, they cannot perform well academically. When a child falls sick, they automatically miss some lessons due to school absenteeism caused by illness.”

On access to maternal and child healthcare services, Ms Msangi commends the government for its substantial efforts in improving such services across the district.

She highlights the availability of services at various health facilities, including Mrara Health Centre, Hangoni Dispensary, Babati Hospital and others.

“The government has done a great job in strengthening maternal and child health services in our district,” she points out.

Msangi’s views have been echoed by the Babati Town Council’s Social Welfare Officer, Agatha Patris, who, in an interview with the Daily News stresses the need for the government, in collaboration with stakeholders, to intensify efforts to ensure the construction of childfriendly toilets in schools to improve children’s health while at school.

She says that currently, only a few schools have toilets specifically designed for pre-primary children and those with special needs.

“ However, many of the schools being constructed nowadays are designed in a way that can accommodate students with special needs,” she says.

Shading the light on Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services in the district, Ms Agatha says that the district is performing well in delivering the services, especially in the areas of vaccination and emergency care.