The Shama Model Junior High School (JHS) in the Western Region emerged champions in the maiden Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools Quiz Competition organised by the Opportunity Industrialisation Centre International (OICI).

Shama Model JHS beats five other schools in the JHS category while Half-Assini Methodist Primary School in the Jomoro District also emerged winners in the primary category.

Other schools that participated in the quiz completion in the JHS Division were Ngyerisia M/A JHS, Bonwire Catholic JHS, Dixcove Methodist JHS, Eikwe Catholic JHS and Birim Na Akyenim M/A JHS.

The winners of the quiz competition were presented with trophies, plaques, educational materials, wall clocks and certificates.

All the participating schools also received books, plaques and certificates.

Mr George Dorgbetor, the Project Manager of OICI, the NGO implementing the WASH in Schools Project, said the NGO selected 31 schools in the six coastal districts of the Western Region comprising, Shama, Sekondi-Takoradi, Ahanta West, Nzema East, Ellembelle and Jomoro.

He said the project equipped the school children with the skills and tools, to reach out to their colleagues and communities in order to influence them to adopt positive sanitation and hygiene behaviours and practices.

Mr Dorgbetor said the project also constituted youth ambassadors in the beneficiary schools who undertake various advocacy porgammes in their communities and local radio stations sensitizing the public to embrace basic hygiene and sanitation practices.

Mrs Elizabeth Akuoko, the Sekondi-Takoradi Director of Education, commended the NGO for the initiative saying the project would make a positive impact on the attitudes of school children regarding their personal hygiene and ensure a clean school environment.

She said the project had raised the awareness of the students to wash their hands regularly, avoid open defecation and improved the academic performance of students.

The Director expressed optimism that the project would be sustained and expanded to other schools in the Region.

The project was being funded by Tullow Ghana Limited and the TEN partners including, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Kosmos Energy, Anadarko and Petro South Africa, the operators of the Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme Oilfields in the Tano Basin Deep Waters offshore.

GNA