WATER SUPPLY AND BASIC SANITATION IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KHARTOUM, SUDAN

School sanitation is necessary for the safeguard, secure the healthy environment for students' health. WHO suggests t hat the provision of sustainable safe drinking water and sanitation services to all, there would reduce morbidity and mortality rate regarding food and water borne diseases. Poor sanitation has led to the infestation of nearly a billion people - largely ch ildren - with a variety of worm infections, with its corresponding costs of health and energy. The study aimed to assess water and sanitation facilities in primary schools in Khartoum, Sudan. A cross - sectional, descriptive study was conducted among 409 ra ndomly selected schools. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, interviews, observation checklist, focus group discussions and microbiologically and physically analysis of water samples, from sources and storage reservoirs. The data were anal yzed using (SPSS) and chi - square test with 95% confidence level. The results showed that 6.8% of schools were without excreta disposal facilities, 46.7% had no collection program for solid waste. Regarding water supply, the Coliform, Thermo tolerant, E. C oli bacteria appeared in the samples taken from the taps, clay pots, plastic barrels, and coolers. The correlation between the coverage of water storage vessels and pollution was not significant, (p >0.05). The primary schools in Khartoum have a differen t forms of sanitation facilities, but these are generally inadequate. The schools have a variety of water sources, but there is generally inadequate coverage, insufficient potable water supply or non - existent at all in some schools. Water storage vessels w ere found open and without cover and dirty. The majority used water storage source is clay pots which is mainly contaminated.