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Sanitation campaign sweeps Barisal

By Masud Hasan Khan Back from Barisal
Md Sultan Hossain now knows ihal poverty cannot be an excuse for not striving for a better life
A small rice trader of Udaykathi village in Banaripara I liana Hossain and his five-member family have said yes to a sweeping campaign across Barisal Division and started using a hygienk latrine.
A little deviation from the usual practice though, the switch-over from an open la trine near a small canal run nlng along Sultan's house, has ensured health for his family and Jus neighbours
As the intensive campaign for safe drinking water and against diarrhoea continues almost all the open latrines in Banaripara have vanished
The open latrines hanging along liie banks of the rivers and canals and the stenc h are no longer there
i The result is remarkable
Some 2.48.098 hygienic la trines in Barlsal division have helped bring down diarrhoeal deaths from 923 last year to 93 this year
"Our forefathers were not right in betting up open la trines near the canals." said Sultan Hossain. "Their idea about safety and hygiene was superficial because they did not know that water spreads diarrhoea germs. he said.
We now know that open latrines are bad for health. 1 have to have water from a tubewell and wash my hands with soap or ash on return from latrine or keep my home clean, said Md Rubel a boy of Bara Kasba village In Barisal's 'loumadl thana
This correspondent while travelling through the eyecooling hamlets of Barlsal district foand high awareness level among the rural people
on health and sanitation.
Most of the people Interviewed responded positively to ihe change in their sanitation habits and suggested that using pit or water-seal latrines were ' rtter than using branches of local "gim" trees that usually hang over the rural canals to allow people defacate in water.
Bill-boards, posters and placards with sanitation messages wyre seen prominently displayed at the*schools, local office buildings, walls of shops, market places and other l"iilfings in the palm-fringed 'Hages of Barisal.
A recent Bureau of Statistics survey said 46 per cent of the 'oral rural families of Barisal Division now use at least one form of sanitary latrines, either pit or water-seal type.
The national average shows that only 30 per cent of The families use hygienic latrines.
Yet. the country is exposed to diarrhoea and other endemic diseases that claim some seven lakh children every year. The deaths of children caused only by diarrhoea stands at 2.5 lakh a year.
If people can be truly made convinced of their benefits and they are properly mobilised, such good result in so short a ' time can be easily achieved.” said Md. Abdur Rahim Khan. Sub-Assistant Engineer of Gaurnadi Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department.
The Public Health Engineering Department is one of ' the major implementing agencies involved In supplying / concrete slabs, pans and other parts of the hygienic latrines.
The department Is also supplying tubewells and helping rural people sink those.
One pt the main reasons behind the sanitations success in Barisal Is that the government officials delivered services to the doorstep of the ru-
ral people, observed many who talked with The Daily Star.
The UNICEF-supported Integrated Approach for improved sanitation as the campaign is called, involves almost all the government departments having network at the union level.
Besides, the Non-Govern-, mental Organisations like Grameen Bank, CARE. CARITAS and NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation helped reach the services at the grass-roots level.
These organisations together are engaged in an intense publicity campaign Organising countrywide meetings. rallies and processions, distributing posters, screening video-films and miking on the benefits of hand washing, drinking safe water and hygienic latrines.
Rural people respond quickly when they understand ' their benefits." commented Keshab Chandra Das. Headmaster of the Uttarkul Secondary School.
The school having 375' students has earned quite a name for its role in the Barisal's effort for improved sanitation.
At the* initial stage of the campaign, bands of young boys and girls led by their teachers used to go out to the villagers to convince them to remove their canal side open and hanging Jatrines.
Later, people began accepting the new Ideas from their sons and daughters and installed hygienic latrines.
'This campaign can really kick off similar other rural development programmes because once villagers believe you and, start following you. there I? no end", said Md. Nuruzza-man. PHE Sub-Assistant Engi- • neer at Banaripara.
"In Barisal. the beginning has just begun." he added.