प्रकोपमा खानेपानी, सरसफाई र स्वास्थ्यको भुमिकाः मुख्य सवालहरु

प्रकोपमा खानेपानी, सरसफाई र स्वास्थ्यको भुमिकाः मुख्य सवालहरु 

By: Sasmita Poudel

विभिन्न प्रकोप जस्तै बाढी, पहिरो र भुकम्पले जति धनजनको क्षति हुन्छ, त्यो भन्दा बढी प्रकोप पछि हुने महामारीको कारणले गर्दा हुने गरेको पाइएको तथ्यलाई विभिन्न तथ्याङ्क मार्फत उदृढ गर्दै “प्रकोपमा खानेपानी, सरसफाई र स्वास्थ्यको भुमिका” नामक अन्र्तक्रिया कार्यक्रममा खानेपानी तथा ढल निकास विभाग (DWSS) का इन्जिनियर ठाकुर प्रसाद पण्डितले प्रष्ट पार्नुभयो ।

त्यस्तै, Oxfam नामक गैर सरकारी संस्थाबाट  रश्मि शर्माले नेपालमा भएका विभिन्न प्रकोप र प्रकोप पछिका उद्घार कार्यक्रममा खानेपानी र सरसफाईको भुमिकालाई प्रष्ट पार्नु भएको थियो । साथै, प्रकोप पछिको महामारीलाई कसरी न्युनिकरण गर्न सकिन्छ र यसमा युवाहरुको भुमिका सक्रिय रुपमा हुनुपर्छ भन्ने जस्ता महत्वपुर्ण जानकारी दिनु भएको थियो । “सहकार्य उपाय होइन, आवश्यकता हो ।” भन्दै उहाँले आफ्नो प्रस्तुति टुङ्ग्याउनु भएको थियो । कार्यक्रमको सुरुवात वातावरण तथा जनस्वास्थ्य संस्था (एन्फो) का प्रोजेक्ट अफिसर काशिकान्त ठाकुरले गर्नुभएको थियो ।

“ वाश फोरम (WASH फोरम)” एक नियमित मासिक अन्र्तक्रिया कार्यक्रम हो जसको आयोजना “पश्चिम पाईला” नामक युवा सञ्जाल र वातावरण तथा जनस्वास्थ्य संस्था (एन्फो)ले गर्ने गर्दछ । वातावरण तथा जनस्वास्थ्य संस्था (एन्फो) ले “पश्चिम पाईला” लाई सचिवालय प्रदान गरेको छ ।

Exploring the Chandragiri Hill with fun and learn way

Exploring the Chandragiri Hill with fun and learn way

3^rd WASH Leadership Hiking with environment/sanitation special was conducted on June 10, 2011 at Chandragiri Hill via Machchhegaun trail. Likely the previous hikings, with the theme, “Seventy five percent fun, twenty five percent learn and hundred percent fellowship”, the hiking was begun from Machchhenarayan Temple, Machchhegaun at around 8 pm morning.

Firstly, participants were gathered on Old-Buspark at 7 pm and headed towards the base point i.e. Machchhegaun. At Machchhegaun, participants had breakfast along with some recreation with worshiping Machchhenarayan and Bouddha stupa located at Machchhegaun and then, around 9 pm geared up for the gutsy hike.

As the hiking was interlinked with WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and Leadership, tasks were given as leadership for team building and issue based presentation with dividing 3 teams with respect of Water, Sanitation and Green. Participants played and showed different exercises like team work game, statue presentation and song presentation for respective issues at two mid points and final point. Then, again panel discussions were made on the three topics from different three resource persons from different fields. “This is the great experience and sharing for me as well, because it is making me youthful with energizing me to have sharing at this top of Kathmandu Valley with so many motivated hikers,” said by Dr. Murali Gopal Ranjitkar, Resource person, hiker, aged 54. After having some more cultural song and dance, the hikers returned back with following another trail of Matatirtha with having songs’ chorus on the way. “This is one of my immense experiences for hiking, which is completely different and worthy occurrence than the rest. And I think, fun, learn and fellowship at a time is really making this hiking awesome,” said by Ratneshwor Shah, one hiker.

Finally, the hiking was concluded around 5 pm at Matatirtha Bus Station. The hiking was conducted with the joint effort of “paschim paaila”, NYCA, SEAT and SEN and supported by ENPHO, SERDEN and DEAN where 25 youths from various background and dynamics were participated. The 4^th series of WASH Leadership hiking intends to be conducted on November, 2011. Are you also ready for fun with learn???

Community Sensitization Campaign for Healthy Environment

Community Sanitation Sensitization Campaign for Healthy Environment

By: Giri Raj Khatri

On the occasion of World Environment Day-11 and National Sanitation Week-68, community sanitation sensitization campaign was launched on two communities of Kathmandu Valley in which the event were supported from ENPHO and UN-Habitat Urban Youth Fund. Different sorts of activities were conducted in Chyasal Community, Lalitpur and Pathivara Community, Kathmandu during June 6-9, 2011.

The local Youth WASH Circle in coordination with youth clubs, CBOs, Mother Groups organized series of event. More than 500 people were aware through the documentary entitled 'Dhalmati'. Similarly, Community cleaning initiatives were launched in both communities for a week with active participation of youths and other community people. Different public place, street, schools were cleaned up.

In addition, different hygiene behavior like proper hand washing technique, POU option for water treatment, Solid waste management system were shared by trained youths. The drawing competition was also organized at pathivara tole under the theme ‘children for water and sanitation’ and the prize was distributed to the winner at the last day of the campaign. Also, they committed to follow such activates in future in planned way to create surrounding area healthy and environmentally friendly. "Today I feel proud myself because I contribute something to my society"- said by Yusna Banjankar, event coordinator, Chayasal Youth Club-WASH Circle.

The campaign was conducted under “National Environment-Sanitation Week-2011, June 1-14, 2011” which was jointly organized by ENPHO/"paschim paaila" and NYCA in collaboration with different other stakeholders.

Youths in the process of Transforming Waste into Wealth

Youths in the process of Transforming Waste into Wealth

By: Kamala KC

With the main objective of making youths as an entrepreneur, “paschim paaila” organized the three days training entitled “Transforming waste into wealth” for the youths of 16-32 years having different background from June 2-4, 2011 as a part of WASH Led Youth Empowerment Project Supported by The UN-HABITAT Urban Youth fund and Environment & Public Health Organization (ENPHO).

The training was mainly divided into three parts i.e. Day first as the day for General overview and waste art, Day second as the day for composting and hands on practice and Day third as the day for field visit and action planning.

“People’s perception about waste as out of sight, out of mind is also very important to change in fact”, said by Mr. Rajesh Manandhar, UN-HABITAT during his presentation. Similarly, Mrs. Sangita Shrestha and Mrs. Dilshova Shrestha, Nagal Youth Club explained and demonstrated the art from waste i.e. from unused milk’s plastic and also conducted practical session among the participants.

Furthermore, Mr. Kishor Maharjhan,Tri-Chandra College stressed on Vermi-composting and Mrs. Sanu maiya Maharjhan, Kathmandu Metropolitan city facilitated on Bin composting and 3R principle with the practical examples. Moreover, Field visit to Teku Transfer Station, ECO-Home Kritipur and WEPCO demonstration site further helped the participants to see practical examples, and felt the opportunities vs. challenges by themselves in practical life as well.

At the end of training, the participants were appreciated and congratulated with few remarks by Mr. Bhusan Tuladhar, UN-HABITAT with the distribution of certificates. And also, two participants were gifted vermi for vermi-composting with encouraging their high eager to implement at home.

One more step towards healthy communities

One more step towards healthy communities

By: Mr. Ritesh Manandhar

“paschim paaila” organized a school WASH awareness program focusing on to aware the children from Nuns Welfare Foundation Nepal - Arya Tara Thangka Primary School Bhanjyang, Pharping on May 20, 2011.

The programme entailed songs, a short drama, slide presentations entitled, ‘Water pollution, their sources and process of their purifications’ and ‘Hygiene Promotion and Hand Washing’ followed by a docu-drama titled ‘Barsha’. The most important aspect was not only that the team informed them or just made them aware but the team also demonstrated the 6 proper ways of hand washing. An overwhelming response was received and in return, the children who learnt the proper ways of hand washing determined to teach their friends. A great achievement!

The numbers of total participants including teachers of the school were 70 in total. Respected Ani Choying Dolma, who is also the founder of the same school, was also present to encourage proper learning. Furthermore, It is not the sole responsibility of organizations only but is of everyone, especially youth group who should emerge up to combat the tragedies of death toll to ensure a healthy life of an individual and healthy nation as a whole.