Oshana: Oshana Governor, Hofni Iipinge, has called for sustained investment in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in schools and communities, warning that gaps in basic services continue to undermine children's health, dignity, and education.

According to Namibia Press Agency, in his keynote address during the Day of the African Child commemoration held at Okaku Primary School on Tuesday, Iipinge stated that access to clean water and proper sanitation is not a privilege, but a fundamental right that directly affects a child's development and future.

"In many communities, especially in rural and informal settlement areas, children still live without reliable access to safe water, dignified sanitation, and basic hygiene facilities. When a child has no clean water to drink, no safe toilet to use, or no place to wash their hands, that child's health is placed at risk, their education is disrupted, and their dignity is compromised," he said.

Iipinge stressed the need for more deliberate investment in child-sensitive water and sanitation infrastructure in homes, schools, early childhood development centers, health facilities, and communities, particularly in underserved rural and peri-urban areas.

He also emphasized that every school should be equipped with safe, accessible, and gender-responsive sanitation facilities, including handwashing stations and menstrual hygiene support, to ensure that every child, especially girls, can learn with confidence and dignity.

Hygiene education and behavior change, he noted, must be prioritized at the household and community level, highlighting that infrastructure alone is not sufficient; families need knowledge, supplies, and support for healthy practices.

He further called attention to the unequal burden placed on girls and women in collecting water, caregiving, and household sanitation management, stating that addressing this issue is essential for gender equality and for protecting girls' time, safety, and educational opportunities.

Iipinge also warned that drought and climate pressures continue to worsen household vulnerabilities, making access to water and sanitation even more challenging for many families. The commemoration was held under the theme 'Ensuring universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for every child in Africa.'