South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Aluong Maker Aluong.
A student from the University of Juba’s School of Public Health Joseph January Jodri, , has expressed deep disgust over the deteriorating hygiene conditions at the institution’s Western Campus, calling for urgent action to address the problem.
In an interview with The Dawn Newspaper on Monday, he stated that hygiene and sanitation are significantly deteriorating, prompted by several factors that require immediate attention.
Jodri expressed his overwhelming feelings of disgust due to the current poor hygiene at the University of Juba, particularly at the Western Campus.
He noted that the number of dustbins is insufficient, making it difficult for students to locate them; as a result, many are forced to dispose of their rubbish carelessly. Furthermore, the rubbish that is collected by a few responsible students is not taken to the main disposal centres in a timely manner.
“It is generally assumed that when environmental hygiene is poor, there is a high likelihood that personal and food hygiene will also be compromised. This is a widely accepted belief,” January stated.
He emphasised that the limited number of toilets and urination shelters on campus is inadequate, especially at the Western Campus, which often forces students to leave the campus when uncomfortable or even resort to urinating on the walls. This behaviour contributes to the overall poor hygiene.
“Visit the Western Campus of the University of Juba; it has effectively turned into a dumping ground, particularly around the outside wall of the School of Journalism, Media, and Communication Studies. Here, students themselves are victims of this disgusting situation. What do you think outsiders will do? They will follow the example set by students, as they are unfamiliar with the beauty of the University and how it should be maintained. I boldly emphasise that students should set an exemplary standard.”
He also highlighted the irregular supply of water, which hampers the effective use of the toilets, as the lack of water prevents people from using them properly.
Jodri urged the entire administration of the University of Juba to promote hygiene by increasing the number of toilets, particularly if more buildings are to be constructed. He insisted that dustbins should be placed throughout the campus to prevent littering, and advocated for the establishment of an active waste management department to oversee the overall hygiene of the University. This department should also be educated about hygiene and health, as the saying goes, “Health is the first wealth!”
He concluded by appealing to students, especially those pursuing degrees in public health, to set an example for others and to promote the message to the general public: “Prevent the spread of germs and diseases through cleanliness.”
