As the number of patients suffering from water-borne diseases rises with the onset of monsoon season, concerned bodies and organisations have begun conducting awareness programmes related to personal hygiene and sanitation.
NGO, Guthi, launched a safe water and hygiene campaign to make people aware about pure drinking water, hygienic food behaviour, personal hygiene and environmental sanitation. Guthii would set up around 100 booths in Kathmandu and Lalitpur slum areas and places where there is a considerable number of squatters. The campaign was launched on May 28, 2009, and would remain in operation for more than two months when cases of waterborne diseases start declining.
Guthi was conducting community-based programmes and organizing door-to-door campaigns [in collaboration with] Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), NGO Forum for Urban Water & Sanitation, ENPHO, UN-HABITAT, UNICEF and other concerned bodies. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City had promised to support the project.
[The] Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, under Department of Health Service […] were publishing leaflets and posters for making people aware about [water-related] diseases [and were] using radio, TV and newspapers to spread awareness [as well].
Senior public health officer Pranay Kumar Upadhaya said number of cases of waterborne diseases could be brought down by as much as 80 per cent if people living in slums and the squatter population improve sanitation and eating habits.
Source: The Himalayan Times / NGO Forum, 03 June 2009
Sanitation Updates 