Over 80 percent of diseases (including diarrhoea, cholera, intestinal worms, trachoma, typhoid) among adults and children are caused by lack of basic sanitation, according to a new government report entitled Nepal Country Plan for International Year of Sanitation 2008.
The report said poor hygiene and sanitation were causing losses of over US$150 million per year in terms of health costs, loss of economic productivity and the adverse effect on tourism.
“Unless we act fast, the problems will get worse,” said Bharat Adhikari, from the NGO Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH). Adhikari added that there was a need to build at least 15,000 latrines a month (until 2015) if Nepal was to achieve its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of 53 percent access to sanitation and improved drinking water systems by 2015.
Read more: IRIN, 9 Mar 2008
1 response so far ↓
Bal Devi Pokhrel // March 13, 2008 at 10:29 am
I would like to inform you that before 5 years ago I have done work in water and sanitation in terai region of Nepal. It was related with Fund Board Nepal. At that period my position was supervisior.
Thank you
regards,
Bal Devi
Leave a Comment