The Rev. Al Miller (centre), Build Jamaica Foundation's chairman, Doreen Brown (left), co-ordinator, and Elaine Bryan, of sponsors, CVM Television, look at documents on BJF's latest project at a press conference yesterday at The Courtleigh hotel, New Kingston. BJF, a voluntary organisation, announced a telethon for November 24 to raise money to get rid of pit latrines in basic schools islandwide. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer THE BUILD Jamaica Foundation (BJF) is inviting public support to help with contributions to replace the 559 pit latrines at basic schools islandwide.
The project will cost $140,000 per unit and will help the three-to-six-year-olds at the basic schools. BJF yesterday announced a telethon to be broadcast on CVM-TV on November 24, when it is hoped that citizens will commit themselves to the drive.
Kool 97 FM kicked off the drive with a $21,000 donation, yesterday.
The appeal is to all Jamaicans, companies and their staff to help correct the deplorable condition of pit latrines in basic schools islandwide, by replacing them with proper toilets.
It comes in the wake of reports that of 1,900 basic schools islandwide, with an average of 25 students each, almost 600 or nearly 30 per cent are using pit latrines. Some basic schools are still using pit latrines that were built before Independence in 1962, according to BJF figures. These show that children are being exposed to dangerous diseases and many have no place even to wash their hands after using the pit latrines, increasing the danger to health. Waste from pit latrines can seep into the underground water supply system, contaminating the drinking water.
The problem persists especially in St. Thomas, where 40 per cent of the basic schools there have pit latrines. St. Thomas will be the pilot project area and in areas where flush toilets cannot be provided, upgraded ventilated pit latrines will be put in.
This is the BJF's second major short term project; it initiated a drive for a $2-million ventilator which was handed over in July to the Bustamante Hospital for Children, Arthur Wint Drive, Kingston. That ventilator brought to six, and completed the amount needed by the hospital to help meet the needs of its Intensive-Care Unit.
The project targets Ministry of Education-approved basic schools and will teach the youngsters how to use the toilets properly, as well as ensure their maintenance.
"It's not only pit latrines that were in good condition that we found... some were awful," Doreen Brown, BJF's co-ordinator, said at a press conference at The Courtleigh hotel, New Kingston yesterday. "We found the conditions really deplorable. We want to find at least 500,000 Jamaicans who will commit to giving a dollar a day."
BJF offices are open to taking pledges. Contributions can be made to BJF accounts at most banks and any Paymaster outlet. On the day of the telethon, phone lines will be open all day and the action will be broadcast live on CVM-TV in the evening.
BJF is a non-profit organisation that was launched in 1998 out of a need to change lives through education and health.
The challenge is to encourage Jamaicans at home and abroad, to commit to giving $1 per day for a year toward nation-building through education and health.
A long term BJF project, according to the Rev. Al Miller, chairman, is to see to the transformation of education. He said they hoped to take 14 model schools and bring them to 21st century standards from every angle and see this replicated in every school over time. The organisation is also committed to seeing a well-equipped paediatric wing in every hospital.
