As part of the National Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Awareness Week, PHED has organized a workshop with WATSAN Committees from 34 villages under Dhansiripar sub-division on March 18.
On March 19, a sanitation drive was undertaken where the traditional ring well and iron removal plant was cleaned. During the formal function, Er Sentimeren, Junior Engineer, delivered short speech on water and sanitation, while Er Lipok, JE, conducted demonstration on the use of water testing kits and Er Bendang, JE, delivered the vote of thanks.
Later, a rally was held with the aim to sensitised on safe and clean water, sanitation and hygiene.
As part of the National Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Awareness Week 2015, PHE department has set up water testing laboratories in all the eleven districts of the State. Everyone coulc avail the opportunity to test water from the laboratories where experts like the PHED officials and chemist would be available to extent their service.
It stated that lack of toilets affects people’s dignity, privacy, status and safety. It disclosed that 80% of the diseases in the developing nations were due to water borne and excreta related diseases like Diarrhoea, Cholera, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A (Jaundice), and worm infections and due to unhygienic living conditions like Malaria, Filaria, and Dengue etc.
In a related programme, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Peren division, has launched a National Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation (NRDWS) awareness week at Government Higher Secondary School, Peren, with the participation of students from various schools, teachers and staff. A week long campaign closing ceremony would be held in Kohima on March 22 to commemorate the celebration of World Water Day.
The objective of the campaign was delivered by SDO PHED, Peren, Er. Ichirang Zeliang. Action plan for week long awareness campaign was to create awareness in the village across the district on issues related to drinking water and sanitation like building, use of toilet, keeping the villages/ towns clean, safe handling and use of drinking water, awareness of quality drinking water, water conservation, community managed water supply systems in rural areas involving grassroots level institutions like WATSAN committee, collection of water fee and targets by WATSAN committee, involvement of Anganwadi, ASHA workers, schools teachers, Women Self Help Groups and youth organizations during the campaign period.
During the programme, Executive Engineer of PHED, Er. P Khetoi Sema, stressed on building and use of toilets, sensitization and practices of sanitation, personal hygiene and the importance of hand washing with soap. He underscored the need to create awareness among the masses about the conservation of water resources and active participation of grassroots level among the masses about safe drinking water. He also encouraged the students to take active part in sanitation drive and the messengers to spread message to rural population.
In a related programme, National Rural Drinking water and Sanitation (NRDWS) awareness week was launched at Niuland Sub-Division, Dimapur, on March 18.
WATSAN committees under sub-division have participated in launching programme. The keynote addressed was delivered by SDO, Repkuyuba, while JE Sub-Division, Temsutoshi, highlighted on the importance of NRDWS.