| The
Local Government Division under the Ministry
of LGRD&C, NGO Forum for Drinking Water
Supply & Sanitation, World Health Organization,
DFID and UNICEF jointly observed the World
Water Day 2008. On the Day 22 March, the
International Year of Sanitation 2008 and
the National Hand Washing Campaign were
launched with due significance as part of
observance. This year, the theme of the
World Water Day was Sanitation. In the light
of the theme of the Day, the Launching Ceremony
highlighted different aspects of sanitation
especially the importance and proper way
of hand washing and maintaining other hygiene
principles for sound health.
Mr.
Mohammed Anwarul Iqbal, B.P.M. (Bar), P.P.M.,
Adviser, Ministry of LGRD & Cooperatives,
Ministry of Textile & Jute, and Ministry
of Labour & Employment, Government of
the People's Republic of Bangladesh was
present as the Chief Guest. Chaired by Local
Government Secretary Mr. Shaikh Khurshid
Alam, the Ceremony was addressed by Mr.
Paul Edwards, Chief, WES, UNICEF and Mr.
Chris Austin, Chief, Bangladesh Desk, DFID
as special guests. Mr. Andrew Trevett, Environmental
Health Adviser of World Health Organization
read out the speech of WHO Representative
and Chief of Mission to Bangladesh Dr. Duangvadee
Sungkhobol. Prof. Mujibur Rahman of BUET
presented objectives of the International
Year of Sanitation and the National Hand
Washing Campaign. Mr. Lukman Hakim Talukder,
Joint Secretary (WS), Local Government Division
delivered the welcome speech while Mr. S.M.A
Rashid, Executive Director of NGO Forum
addressed the Ceremony on the organizers'
behalf. Mr. Mostafizur Rahman, Chief Engineer
of DPHE gave vote of thanks. Representatives
from the concerned ministries, government
agencies, UN-bodies,
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development partners, national and international
development organizations, academics and
mass-media participated in the Ceremony.
Honourable Adviser Mr. Mohammed Anwarul
Iqbal disclosed that it is possible to prevent
70 percent of water and excreta-borne diseases
through ensuring proper practice of hand
washing across the country.
He pointed out that lack of hygienic sanitation
facilities is seriously affecting safe water
supply, environment and the public health
situation in the country. Without ensuring
sustainable sanitation facilities it is
impossible to prevent water and environmental
pollution. He
augmented that sanitation does not mean
merely installation of latr inesat household
level. Although hygienic latrine installation
is a prerequisite to ensure sanitation yet
the basic hygiene practices including hand
washing practice are integral parts of sanitation.
The diarrhoeal patients who survive also
suffer from malnutrition and consequently
their physical and mental growth is severely
hampered.
The
Chair of the Ceremony LGD Secretary Mr.
Shaikh Khurshid Alam stated that each year
1.8 million people die of diarrhoea. Of
them more than 90 percent are children of
under 5-years. If safe water supply and
sanitation facilities and proper hygiene
practices are ensured diarrhoeal diseases
can be reduced. He underscored on the need
of undertaking different researches to innovate
sustainable acceptable and affordable latrine
technologies considering hydro-geological
variations, flood, water-logging, local
value, culture etc.
Dr. Sungkhobol in her speech expressed that
there is indisputable evidence that hand
washing with soap reduces the incidence
of diarrhoea by around 47 percent while
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