Let act to stop diarrhoea in Jajarkot

Tuesday, 27 April 2010

There has been news reporting about the diarrhoea outbreak in Mid and Far Western districts this year claiming 16 lives and sickening 300 people so far. Despite the government’s commitment to control the spread of diarrhoea, it appears that the districts will witness the spread of diarrhea this year too. Last year, diarrhoea claimed 400 lives throughout the country and killed 250 people in Jajarkot alone. (Source: Nagarik, April 25, 2010). The snail-paced progress in implementing the relief and prevention measures announced by the government last year has prompted concerns that another epidemic cannot be discounted. The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works has announced that 5,000 lavatories will be constructed in Rukum and Jajarkot — the regions badly hit by diarrhoea and cholera last year — by mid-June this year. (Source: The Himalayan Times, April 20, 2010). The ministry had announced construction of toilets in the areas last year and was supposed to complete within three months of announcement of the project. But, there was delay in toilet construction as it took time for the project to be approved by the higher-ups told the concerned officials. A high-ranking official of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division told that the preventable disease can turn into an epidemic if awareness campaigns and water disinfection programmes are not launched in the diarrhoea-affected areas at the earliest. However, the diarrhoea-hit areas are yet to witness any kind of campaign. So, in order to draw the attention of concerned authorities to take immediate actions to control the disease and launch massive public awareness on WATSAN, NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation is planning to have a discussion programme with the civil society, I/NGOs and stakeholders. We have proposed the first week of May for the discussion and planning. Please kindly confirm your availability for the programme at; Name: Prajwol Shrestha E-mail: info@ngoforum.netThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Phone no: 2042122, 4216606