Md. Abdul Monnaf
Project Director, DPHE
History of Sanitation:
Bangladesh has a global success story in sanitation. This journey was started in 1954 when DPHE and WHO accepted a ‘Action Research Programme” to reduce the effect of Cholera. In 1979, BUET and DPHE through their jointly research introduced robust slab for water seal of latrine and Ferro-cement slab. By the jointly effort of DPHE and UNICEF, at the end of decade 90, Sanitation coverage was achieved only 16%. After then, in 1991, 10 years national sanitation strategy was introduced and from then sanitation activities can get speed across the whole country.
In 2000, MDG (2000-2015) for water supply and sanitation was fixed by UN. Under the dynamic leadership of our Government, it was possible to successfully achieve the MDG target.
Sanitation:
• It is one of the barriers that stops transmission of Pathogen.
• Prevention of excreta and water related diseases.
• Provide security and convenience especially for women.
•Ensure privacy and dignity to all especially women.
• Contributes in improving the learning environment in schools.
• A fundamental human right.
Sanitation Barriers:
Baseline status of Sanitation (2003):
A national base-line survey was conducted in 2003 to assess the sanitation coverage in the country. The survey revealed an appallingly poor sanitation scenario. Only 33% of the household were found to have hygienic latrines, while 25% had unhygienic ones. About 55 million people (42% households) defecated in the open places (National Sanitation Strategy-2005).
Achievement (2003-2015)
Coverage: The political commitment of the government and a multi-stakeholder approach has led to sanitation improvement in sanitation coverage. According to JMP, in 2015 Bangladesh has made good progress towards MDG target. Open defecation has been reduced to only 1% a millstone change from 42% in 2003.Improved sanitation coverage is 61%, an increase of 28% since 2003. Still 28% people are sharing latrines and 10% people are using unimproved latrines. A trend of sanitation improvement in the country since 1990 to 2015 is presented in figure,
Rural Sanitation Scenario considering MDG & SDG indicators:
In 2003, the month October was declared as a National Sanitation month from that time. We are celebrating every year, the October month as a national sanitation month to increase awareness and understanding about sanitation and hygiene practices.
Bangladesh is pioneer of sanitation movement in South Asian Countries. First SACOSAN held in October 2003 which created and enabling environment for sanitation improvement among the Government, NGOs, Civil Society and Media. The political commitment always upholds the sanitation movement. Our present Government also committed to improve Sanitation situation in Bangladesh. High level of Government’s commitment has been reflected in taking various policy reform initiatives and has made several policies and strategies to address the water supply and sanitation needs and priorities and to improve effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery in this sector.
To improve the sanitation management system the Government of Bangladesh reform task force and Sanitation Secretariat at the central level. At the district, upazila and union parishad task force team are working to improve the sanitation system and hygiene behavior. DPHE is mandated organization to promote sanitation services over the country.
Accordingly DPHE took several initiatives to boost-up the sanitation coverage through several Nation-wide sanitation projects.
The theme for Bangladesh national sanitation month 2019 is ‘Improved Sanitation for all to ensure healthy life’. The theme is in line with ‘having no one left behind’- Principle of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The sanitation month celebrated by the Local Government agencies in collaboration with NGOs, development partners in District, Upazila and Union level.
Out of 17 SDG targets, 6.2 target is for sanitation where it mentioned “By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situation.”
Despite remarkable achievements in the WASH sector, we still need to combat a number of challenges to achieve SDG target 6.2. The challenges are rapid urbanization, natural disasters, effect of climate change such as flood, droughts and water scarcity and lack of quality sanitation and absence of appropriate technologies in hard to reach areas such as low lands and hilly areas.
Global Hand Washing Day (GHWD) celebrated annually on October 15 to increase awareness and understanding about the importance of hand washing with soap as an easy, effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and live. Hand washing with soap at critical times including before eating or preparing food and after using the toilet- can reduce diarrhoea by more than 40%. It has also been found to reduce the incidence of acute respiratory infections by as much as 23 percent.
The theme for GHWD 2019 is “Clean hands for all”. This year, under the dynamic leadership of the Ministry of LGRD & Co. DHPE along with the NGOs, development partners demonstrated the hand-washing process by 500 hundred school students. Besides, there are 75 lac school students also participated at the same time at their own institutions.
To attain SDG target 6.2 in sustainable manner, we need to work together. We need to ensure that everyone across Bangladesh has access to improved sanitation with basic hand-washing facilities with soap and water. This includes population in urban slum areas and remote rural areas, across all financial states, vulnerable groups such as young children and people with disabilities, marginalized groups such as indigenous and displaced population.