KARACHI: Improved water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are helping create a safer and more supportive learning environment for girls at GBSS Bhens Colony in Karachi.
Rashida Safdar, a teacher at the school, has spent the past seven years witnessing how inadequate WASH facilities can affect girls’ attendance, dignity and confidence.
Before the WASH improvements, boys and girls had to share toilets, providing limited privacy for female students. Poor hygiene conditions and limited awareness about menstrual health also contributed to absenteeism among girls.
The situation has improved with the establishment of a girls-friendly toilet block, a Menstrual Health and Management (MHM) Corner with essential supplies, and an active WASH Club involving both teachers and students.
The WASH Club conducts awareness sessions, uses morning assemblies to promote hygiene messages and encourages open discussions about menstrual health. These activities are helping students address misconceptions and become more aware of healthy hygiene practices.
Students also take part in replenishing MHM supplies, while teachers provide additional support when required. This shared approach is helping build a culture of responsibility and ownership within the school community.
Rashida’s experience highlights that sustainable WASH improvements involve more than building toilets and providing facilities. When students, teachers and school communities actively maintain healthy hygiene practices, positive changes can become part of everyday life.
Access to safe sanitation, menstrual health support and hygiene education can also contribute to better attendance, dignity and participation, supporting more inclusive and sustainable education for girls.
