Four ministries in Nepal have finally made a joint commitment to launch a massive water and sanitation campaign to meet the state’s target of providing complete sanitation to all by 2017, nearly six months after the outbreak of diarrhoea that spread earlier in 2009 in 18 districts across Nepal killed nearly 300 people.

They launched a programme on Global Handwashing Day on 15 October 2009 comprising extension of the construction of latrines in all 75 districts, awareness programmes, establishment of a national sanitation fund among others. The Ministries of Health, Education, Physical Planning and Works, and Local Development have promised a comprehensive and combined effort.

“Earlier, we used to implement programmes related to water and sanitation separately, but we are now planning to go ahead in a joint and comprehensive manner,” said Kamal Adhikari, an official at the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, various newspapers report.

Related news: Nepal: water and sanitation rights a must, Source Weekly, 21 Sep 2009

Contact: Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Nepal, info@dwss.gov.np

Source: Kathmandu Post and others / NGO Forum, 15 Oct 2009

Tags: information and communication, on-site sanitation, policies & legislation, south asia