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Developing Hygienic Habits
Sanitation, admittedly, is a much neglected issue in this part of the world. But the issue is closely related to health, hygiene and even envi-ronment That relation was particularly focused at a conference on "Social Mobilisation for Sanitation" by the speakers on Tuesday. No doubt, the concerned people recognise the gravity of the problem and still keep their activities limited to holding seminars and symposiums — mostly
•Then something is surely amiss. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was however quick to pinpoint that missing link. That ft is the people's involvement that account for the success of the national record on sanitation is more than sure. But the intriguing question is — how to involve the people in the movement for sanitation? Cold figures. although hardly represent the true picture, are at least enough here to focus on the low level of the people's awareness about sanitation. If 1000 children die of diarrhoea and other diseases every day and 90 per cent of the people are deprived of basic sanitation facilities, it becomes obvious that not poverty alone is the villain but our proverbial callousness is. to a great extent, responsible for the dismal situation.
Economic health surety has its reflection on the sanitation situation of a society. It is also a habit that can go a long way in improving the national sanitation record. Even some of the devel-yng countries like Singapore have a unique way teaching their students sanitation and environmental lessons. In fact, the lessons should begin at home. And who does not know that habits -goodor bad — die hard? The merits of developing. at an early age. a conscious effort at keeping the surrounding clean cannot be measured in terms of money. We should start training our students on sanitation and thus the mobilisation of public opinion tn favour of environment-friendly programmes can be easier. Sadly, though, the school curriculum in the country has not much to boast on sanitation also.
The theme, when extended, presents a paradoxical picture in that the posh areas of the city have stinking garbage piles side by side the beautifully manicured flower lawns of the most modern residential houses. The malice therefore Is more mental than anything else. So, it is no longer a question of the PM indulging In rhetorics but of a concerted effort on the part of the people, the sanitation department and the non-government organisations working in the area at making the movement a success.
True, the government and some NGOs in particular have taken pains to improve sanitation facilities through distribution of hygienic latrines and tubewells. Credit surely goes to all of them for doing the good Job but at the same time it must be noted that the programmes are being carried on In Isolation. Those programmes alone, without having taken care of a few other perennial problems, cannot fully ensure a safe environment. but they are sure to substantially improve the condition. And that is no mean achievement provided that everything goes on smoothly. In this respect, the NGO Bureau's role cannot be overemphasised. Il can and should effectively coordinate and integrate the sanitation programmes of the government and the NGOs. Only then the overlapping of programmes and the failure to reach the facilities at all to some places can be avoided. The perspective of sanitation of the country should be taken as a whole.