Web Series of WASH FORUM Reloaded on COVID-19 and WASH

-Mr. Amrit Bista, Member, PP batch III

Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) jointly organized 6^th series of WASH FORUM Reloaded on “COVID-19 and WASH” on 15 May 2020 on zoom meeting platform. The program was organized with an objective to share information about COVID-19 and its present status with highlight of session on linkages of COVID-19 and WASH.

Mr. Sudan Raj Panthi, National Professional Officer, Environmental Health at World Health Organization (WHO) resided as resource person in the program. During the program, epidemic curve of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, its chain of transmission and elements of standard precautions were shared. Resource person gave more focus on preventive measures in concern to hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene and insisted that maintaining hand-hygiene is key preventive measure of COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from personal hygiene information showing importance regarding decontamination, principles of cleaning and health care waste management during this state of COVID-19 pandemic was also explained by National Professional Officer of WHO Mr. Sudan Raj Panthi.

More than 55 participants actively attended session of WASH FORUM Reloaded on zoom platform and put forward queries during Q&A session.

Menstrual Hygiene Management: An emerging issue

“Menstrual Hygiene Management: An emerging issue”

Paschim Paaila organized regular interaction program WASH FORUM May series on 30^th May 2014. This time the topic was “Menstrual Hygiene Management: An emerging issue”. Celebrating World Menstrual Hygiene Day- 2014 for the first time in the world on May 28, Paschim Paaila brought down this issue in the forum with the participation of 42 participants.

The forum was very interactive and participants were cooperative with resource person Ms. Kamal Tara Bajracharya, Youth and Adolescent Program Manager, FPAN and another resource person Ms. Kamala KC, Consultant, Water Aid Nepal. During the session participants raised their queries regarding the current scenario of toilets in university’s colleges and also of public toilet which are not female friendly. 

The session was carried out by our resource person on the components of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and related it with Education, Health, Empowerment and Rights.

In this forum, volunteers were appreciated with certificates by Network Coordinator Mr. Buddha Bajracharya for successful conduction of Menstrual Hygiene Campaign on the occasion of International Menstrual Hygiene Day – 2014. At last, the session was concluded with the sharing of some experience of participants regarding menstrual hygiene which was really fruitful following with group Photos.

January Series of WASH Forum on Rooftop farming

 January Series of WASH Forum on Rooftop farming

Paschim Paaila conducted 26^th series of WASH Forum on “Rooftop Farming: win-win approach to Urban Environment Management” on 31^st January, 2014 at ENPHO hall.  The main objective of the discussion program was sharing on Roof Top Farming and to understand the role that youth can play towards promotion of this concept. The key speaker for January series of WASH Forum was Ms. Luna Kansakar, Sr. Program Officer at ENPHO, who provided insights on importance of rooftop farming (RTF) and also emphasized on doing it in the right way.

The emphasis on RTF was given by addressing the emerging issues of Kathmandu city such as unmanaged solid waste, water scarcity, food insecurity and climate change. Ms. Kansakar made a very remarkable point that the increasing numbers of buildings are indeed the opportunities to create a greener environment and the key to that is RTF.

The program was followed by discussion with some thoughtful suggestions to promote RTF by formulating collaboration among the relevant stakeholders and providing support from policy level as well as technical support so that this concept could be led in more effective and successful way. The workshop culminated with summarizing thoughts, vote of thanks and a group photo. 

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.

A WASH FORUM on: "स्वास्थ्य सरोकार र हात धुने बानी: चुनौती र अवसरहरु"

A WASH FORUM on:
"स्वास्थ्य सरोकार र हात धुने बानी: चुनौती र अवसरहरु"
(“Hygiene Issues and Handwashing: Challenges and Oppertunities")

Background:
WASH FORUM is a common interaction forum for knowledge sharing and advocacy regarding water, sanitation and hygiene and disasters/epidemics as social issues, not merely health or, environment issues. In this forum, basically current issues, concerns and youth initiatives of WASH will be focused and tries to address the voices of diversified youth communities along side to others.
This time, WASH FORUM is focusing on HYGIENE ISSUES AND HANDWASHING, which will also provide a space for social interaction, knowledge sharing and critical analysis on the topic that is obviously a social concern issue.

Objective:
1. To provide the opportunity for social interaction and knowledge sharing on hygiene and handwashing concern as a social issue
2. To analyze critically on the hygiene issues with handwashing


Target Audience (Who can participate):
-Youths from all dimensions
- College youth communities from all dimensions
- Non-youths from all dimensions
- Health workers
- Policy makers
- WASH Professionals

Event venue:
@ ENPHO Hall, Thapagaun , Newbaneshwor
Event date:
@ 26th November, 2010
Event time:
@ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Planned Activities:
-Field experience sharing and issue raising
-Campaign survey and learning sharing on Hygiene issue
-Research based paper presentation on hygiene issues and handwashing
-Key note speech on Challenges and opportunities

Guest Speakers:
1.Mr. Om Prasad Gautam, Social Development Advisor, Water Aid Nepal
2.Ms. Shova Adhikari, UNICEF


LET'S MAKE DIFFERENCES.....LET'S PARTICIPATE..........LET'S SPREAD THE VOICES OUT.....
For further communication, WE ARE HERE TO HELP.......


Focal persons:
Giri Raj Khatri, Facilitator- 9841869144
Kamala KC, Facilitator - 9841272410
Phurba Sange Moktan, Coordinator - 9849146184


Regards,
Phurba Sange Moktan
Network Coordinator
“paschim paaila” secretariat
Tel No: +977-01-4468641 , +977-01-4468641 
 +977- 9849146184
P. O. Box:-4102, Fax: - +977-1-4491376
Email: paschimpaailla.nepal@gmail.com
Web: www.paschim-paaila.blogspot.com
Secretariat by: Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO),
110/25-Adarsha Marg, New BaneshworSee More