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Big achievement in WaSH, but still lot more to be done

WaterAid Bangladesh played a vital role in coaching field agencies and other stakeholders to reach 2.4 million school goers in around 9 thousand primary and secondary schools with school sanitation programme.
The initiatives will help to pave the way to meet the Millennium Development Goal in achieving safe drinking and sanitation facility for all by 2015.
The speakers express this at WaterAid ‘development and resource partners meet’ programme held at spectra convention centre in the city recently.
Speaking at the occasion WaterAid global Chief Executive Barbara Frost said, “I found the people extremely passionate and truly committed in providing safe drinking water and decent sanitation for the poor and marginalised in Bangladesh.”
She also said, “Bangladesh is one of the most successful country programmes of WaterAid. Placing Bangladesh as an example, we are trying to make sure that water and sanitation become post 2015 MDG agenda globally.”
In an interview to Star Health, Barbara said, “In terms of change that we have seen in water and sanitation coverage in Bangladesh as result of interventions from the government and all the agencies, the success is huge and there is a big behavioural change going on. But still there are lot more to be done.”
Barbara mentioned that WaterAid’s strategic focus has broadened to health now. The reasons of childhood mortality due to respiratory tract infection, diarrhoea are all interlinked to health.
She also added that Bangladesh was doing good in terms of inclusion of socially marginalised people to get water and sanitation coverage.
Barbara informed that Bangladesh is a priority country to fund in WaSH sector since there is huge demand from beneficiaries.
Being the home of community led total sanitation, the model from Bangladesh has spread in many countries of the world including Africa. Now it is time to think about sludge management. Although technology is quite expensive right at this moment, WaterAid is working with other organisations to find solutions in this regard.
WaterAid, which is a pioneer organisation with the vision of a world where everyone has access to clean water, safe sanitation and good hygiene, is getting engaged in high level meetings on post MDG issues; according to Barbara, they are pushing for universal access in post MDG era.
As the chief executive of WaterAid, Barbara Frost urged the government of Bangladesh to keep good progress, keep the promises and keep the issue in central. She urged to keep more budget allocation in the sector to go forward. She also committed to keep demonstrating good models through her organisation.

Source - The daily Star