The Damongo Catholic Diocesan Development Organization (DACADO), the development arm of the Catholic Diocese of Damongo, has launched a school-based sensitization campaign on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to enhance student health and academic performance across the diocese.
The campaign is part of DACADO’s three-year “Pro-WASH in Schools Project” (2025–2028), officially launched on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at St. Theresa’s KG and St. Anne’s Block A Schools in Damongo. The initiative features health education sessions, handwashing demonstrations, and the distribution of essential WASH materials, including handwashing stations, soap, sanitizers, and sanitary pads.
Speaking to the media, Madam Samsia Evita Mahama, a DACADO field officer, outlined the project’s broader objectives. “We are working with 20 selected schools across the diocese to encourage healthy hygiene practices among students, teachers, and even food vendors,” she said. “The project includes the provision of hygiene supplies, sanitary pads for girls, health screenings, and eventually the construction of boreholes and toilet facilities in 10 schools.”
A key focus of the campaign is to reduce the spread of communicable diseases and ensure that adolescent girls stay in school during menstruation by providing sanitary materials and support. DACADO also plans to establish and revitalize health clubs in beneficiary schools, reinforcing a comprehensive approach to hygiene education.
Health screenings will be conducted for all students, with targeted attention to those identified with underlying conditions. Food vendors operating on school premises will also undergo screenings to ensure food safety and compliance with health standards.
The project is supported by DACADO’s development partners in Germany, with funding from Kindermissionswerk. Locally, DACADO is collaborating with the Ghana Education Service (GES), School Health Education Programme (SHEP) coordinators, the Catholic Education Unit, and the Damongo Diocesan Health Service for effective implementation.
“Our ultimate goal,” Madam Mahama emphasized, “is to improve academic performance by fostering better hygiene practices in schools.”
The 20 beneficiary schools are spread across the Diocese of Damongo, covering communities such as Daboya, Grupe, Yapei, Sawla, Tuna, Kulmasa, Bamboi, and Bole. In the West Gonja Municipality, participating schools include St. Theresa’s RC KG, St. Anne’s RC Primary A, Brotto RC Primary, Kabampe RC Primary, and Grupe RC Primary.
By the end of its three-year cycle, the Pro-WASH in Schools Project is expected to significantly boost student health, increase school attendance, and improve educational outcomes across the diocese.
