Open defecation: Majority vulnerable to serious health hazard

Around 40 million people to be reached to create awareness

ISLAMABAD: Open defecation and disposal of human waste and other dangerous practices by a majority of the people in the country pose a serious threat to quality of life, disease control, and the environment.

This was established in a joint declaration at the end of the Second Pakistan Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN-II) here on Wednesday. The two-day event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Climate Change in collaboration with the World Bank, UNICEF, Water Aid-UK and Plan International.

The declaration expressed concern over the deaths of children under five due to water and sanitation issues and agreed that focus of proper sanitation and hygiene in the country should be based on a paradigm which is people-centered, community-led, gender-sensitive and demand driven.

PACOSAN-II participants agreed to capitalise on strong political will, local leadership and community ownership to boost sanitation coverage and substantially improve hygiene practices by 2025.

It also recommend the reconfirmation of principles and policy and good practices set out in the SACOSAN declarations during the past decade in Dhaka, Islamabad, New Delhi, Colombo and Nepal to allocate and mobilise resources for delivering on all previous SACOSAN commitments.

Climate Change  Minister Mushahidullah Khan, at the closing ceremony, said a majority of the people of Pakistan were unaware of negative impacts of climate change.

He complained that a few countries and individuals were reaping benefits of their industrial and commercial activities, while others were suffering from climate costs. He suggested that those suffering should be compensated.

“The prime minister has show serious concerns about issues related to climate change,” he said, adding that the premier was working to revive the ministry and also get it to play its role at international level.

“People are not aware of the negative impacts of not using proper sanitary systems. There is a need to reach out to around 40.1 million people who do not have access to proper sanitation,” he stressed and suggested that health workers must be given incentives to create awareness.

He urged the need of a think tank and invited experts to contact the ministry for their recommendations.

Health minister Saira Tarar said “Our health indicators are a collective shame...we need a comprehensive plan to take action and not just have surveys and conferences.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2015.