Hygiene issues were explored at WASH FORUM

Hygiene issues were explored at WASH FORUM

By: Phurba Sange Moktan

As the part of regular interaction program, WASH FORUM hit the topic regarding hygiene issues and handwashing for the month of November on 26th November, 2010 at ENPHO Hall which was the joint effort of ENPHO, paschim paaila and WASH-RCNN.\

As per the schedule, program begun at around 1:30 with the introductory icebreaking from master of ceremony, Ms. Kamala KC. The WASH FORUM was divided in to two sessions, first was the semiformal field experience sharing and certification to the volunteers of a month long “HYGIENE AND SANITATION” Campaign-10 and second was the informal key note and research based presentations by the respective resource persons on the topic, “Hygiene Issues and Handwashing: Challenges and Opportunities”.

Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, “paschim paaila” continued the program with the introductory presentation and campaign updates of the campaign. Dr. Suman Kumar Shakya, ED of ENPHO chaired as guest and distributed certificates to encourage the field volunteers of the campaign. Alongside, he also announced the name of the winners of FACEBOOK HANDWASHING MESSAGE CONTEST-10 and awarded the winners as FACEBOOK HANDWASHING CHAMP- 1st, 2nd and 3rdin which Ms. Karishma KC, Mr. Saunak Bhatta and Ms. Kabita Gautam became 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Second session was led by Mr. Om Prasad Gautam, Water Aid Nepal with his key note presentation on the topic, “Hygiene Issues with handwashing” in which status of handwashing practices, present scenarios, different challenges versus opportunities on hygiene issues, etc were critically analyzed and presented. Then, some discussions and queries were made regarding the presentation. Similarly, field and survey based sharing on the topic were done by Ms. Neha Khanal, “paschim paaila”, who had been engaged throughout the campaign as a facilitator. She shared, “Getting awareness and applying in practice were gotten two different things for communities, unless one demonstrate and hit continuous through such campaigns, many of them won’t get bother to apply in practice.”

After having short refreshment break of about 15 minutes, Ms. Shova Adhikari, UNICEF directed her research based presentation on the same topic rationalizing the issues and situations. With taking national and global evidences from the research experiences of UNICEF, she presented the data facts and finding related to the issue. The pattern of questioning and answering side by side of the presentation were made the participants feeling curios and interested.

“This kind of interaction provide us the opportunities to think outside the box as well, otherwise it could be the challenges for us as well. Being a youth, we should take responsibilities by ourselves to have at least little efforts on such social issues”, Said, one participant on feed back collection periods. About 70 participants were actively participated on the program from various institutions and organizations. The program ended up with the final remarks and invitation for next forum on last Friday of December by Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan at around 4:00 pm.