President, PM for gearing up sanitation awareness

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed the hope that the observance of the ‘National Sanitation Month-October 2021’ and the ‘Global Handwashing Day 2021’ will help create public awareness and improve sanitation system in the country.

In separate messages, they wished a success of all programmes of the sanitation month and the hand-washing day.

The LGRD and Cooperatives Ministry observes the month and the day to create awareness on safe sanitation and hygiene among the people.

The President, in his message, said that hygienic and sustainable sanitation is prerequisite to the protection of public health and it is essential to ensure safe sanitation system for all to develop public health.

In the wake of global outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, the importance of developed sanitation has increased further, he said.

President Hamid said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has put importance on washing hands with soap side by side with maintaining social distancing to face Covid-19 pandemic.

It is very important to build the habit of washing hands before and after every work for sound health and beautiful life, he said.

He called for ensuring participation of downtrodden community of society along with school-college students in these programme for successful implementation of sanitation programme.

Abdul Hamid expressed his hope that the concerned government and non-government organizations will continue their united efforts to attain cherished goals of sustainable sanitation.

He said that Bangladesh attained remarkable success in sanitation programme in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which was also praised massively at the international arena.

Bangladesh has taken different initiatives for ensuring Safely Managed Sanitation system for all by 2030, he mentioned.

He said that sanitary latrine, public and community toilet and wash blocks have been built at primary schools to ensure safe sanitation for all.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the Bangladesh Awami League led government has been working tirelessly for the development of public health since assuming power in 2009.

The United Nations has given special importance on safe sanitation management for attaining 6.2 target of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she said.

“Our government is determined to ensure safe sanitation and healthy environment for all. We have implemented 49 projects at a cost of Taka 13,298 crore in rural and municipal areas for pure drinking water, safe sanitation and waste management through the Department of Public Health Engineering in around 13 years. As a result, now the national coverage of sanitation increased to 99 percent,” she said.

Outbreak of diseases due to lack of sanitation and drinking unsafe water has decreased remarkably because of increasing of public awareness, she mentioned.

The premier said that at present around 99 percent of the country’s population has been brought under safe sanitation and safe water sources which was only 33 percent in 2003.

This success of Bangladesh has been lauded at the international arena, she said, adding that besides, the government has given approval to different projects for ensuring supply of safe drinking water.

She said that many projects related to water testing laboratory, sanitation and waste management are underway and once the projects are implemented, it will be conducive to attain SDGs.

“Our target is to ensure Safely Managed Sanitation and drinking water supply by 2030. We have to march forward quickly to achieve the goals,” she said.

She called upon all concerned, including non-government organizations, development associate agencies and media, to come forward spontaneously to expedite the social movement for safe sanitation.