The Adrar region in the north of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania witnessed the launch of the Programme for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services Improvement in Rural Schools, launched by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Mauritanian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture. The programme is aimed at improving water and sanitation services in 1,000 rural schools in several ICESCO Member States and contributing to combating the impact of climate change on water resources.

During the launch ceremony, which was held on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at one of the beneficiary schools in Adrar, Mr. Mohamed Ould Sidi Abdallah, Secretary-General of the Commission, delivered an address in which he conveyed gratitude and appreciation to ICESCO, underscoring the Programme’s importance for enhancing the quality of education and creating suitable learning conditions in rural areas.

The participants in the ceremony, which saw the attendance of Ms. Lou Moustapha, Regional Director of Education in Adrar, and a host of high-ranking officials in the state, emphasized the need to improve access to safe drinking water and equip schools with sanitation and hygiene facilities, calling for the development of a guide on this subject and the organization of training sessions to raise awareness of good hygiene practices.