Proper sanitation stressed in Pakistan's flood-hit districts

The Daily Times (Pakistan): uring the inaugural session of a two-day workshop called the ‘Early Recovery Programme on Rural Sanitation in Flood-affected Districts of Pakistan’, on Thursday, immediate measures to set up sanitation facilities in the flood-affected districts were emphasised. During the inaugural session, high-level officials from the Ministry of Climate Change applauded the efforts of its partners and assured of the continued technical and institutional support for further replication of the program in all provinces. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Climate Change, Pakistan government in collaboration with UNICEF, Plan International, Water Aid and other partners, organised the workshop to review programme implementation and objectives in addition to addressing the constraints in reaching out to those most in need.

During the inaugural session, high-level officials from the Ministry of Climate Change applauded the efforts of its partners and assured of continued technical and institutional support for further replication of the programme in all provinces. Following a phased approach, 7.6 million people in 34 flood-affected districts will be reached through the programme by the end of 2012. The programme focuses on demand creation instruments that include information, education and communication (IEC) material, Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), formulation of water sanitation and hygiene clubs and mass media communications. Already around five million people reside in 4,500 open defecation free villages with access to improved sanitation facilities while the programme is still on-going...

An aerial view of Pakistan's 2010 floods, public domain