Maiden training programme for sanitation workers draws 220 in Warangal

Warangal: As sanitation workers working in government schools, you have the responsibility of monitoring Hand Wash and Menstrual Health Management (MHM) in your respective schools, District Education Officer (DEO) Urban Warangal K Narayan Reddy told the sanitation workers at a training programme held here on Tuesday.

The Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) with support from Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL) organised a training programme to the sanitation workers with an aim to focus on breaking myths, taboos and the resultant silence about MHM and share knowledge about nutrition, hygienic practices and about different protective methods and products including their usage and disposal.

Speaking at the inaugural session DEO K Narayan Reddy said that he was happy as this is the first such training organised in Warangal. He said that earlier there were no sanitation workers in schools and now they were appointed to take care of all sanitation needs.

The sanitation workers were told to ensure children use toilets and not go for open defecation, to keep the toilets in schools clean so that children will not contract diseases and to use the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) daily in order to keep good health, he told them.

As many as 220 sanitation workers working in 220 government schools have participated in the in-depth training on FSSM, Gender in Sanitation, Safe Sanitation Practices, Use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), WASH and MHM in schools at Balavikasa Training Centre.

After the training programme, the participants were provided with two sets of PPEs to each school along with cleaning materials free of cost for one year, which will help in bringing wide range of improvements in government schools of Warangal city.

Giving feedback about the training, Hanumanth (52) from UPS Banjara Colony said that this is his first training programme in his 15 years of service and it is a good programme. He felt that they need to know how to maintain good hygiene and learn about the use of PPEs. ‘Also, this training removed our myths on MHM.’

A sanitary worker Sunitha (25) said that she was totally satisfied with the training, which gave them lot of encouragement and now they can speak up in public and even with school students without hesitation.

“After the training, I am confident about talking with others about this as I had in-depth information. Today with this training I got confidence on managing MHM and I will ensure this information reaches out to many through me,” she added.

The programme was concluded by free basic health-checkup camp. The sanitation workers were informed about their personal health requirements.

Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) has been taking several initiatives to improve sanitation in the city, which is evident with Tuesday’s training. It has constructed several public toilets, She toilets, toll free number (18004251980) for citizens to give their feedback and clarify their queries and set up a faecal sludge treatment plant at Ammavaripeta.