WASH Mela 2019

On the occasion of National Sanitation Week 2019, Municipal Association Nepal (MuAN) and ENPHO in association with Paschim Paaila organized a mega event ‘WASH Mela’ on 8 to 9 June, 2019 at Basantapur Entrance, Newroad, Kathmandu. This event was intended to raise public awareness on various emerging Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues, along with information on various WASH services available to enrich sustainable WASH.

During an inaugural ceremony of WASH Mela, Honorable Minsiter of Water Supply and Sanitation Ms. Bina Magar, graced the event residing as the Chief Guest of the event. The inauguration of an event was conducted by pouring compost and water to the plant by the minister herself. Mr. Ashok Byanju Shrestha, Mayor of Dhulikhel Municipality was the Special Guests during an event. During an opening remarks, Honorable minister Ms. Bina Magar, suggested all to gear up with the commitment on faecal sludge management and also thanked the organizer to conduct this mass awareness campaign. Honorable Minister also visited all the stall and encouraged and appreciated all the organization for contributing in the WASH sector.

The event included exhibition stall, drama, documentary show, informative games and panel discussion.

Exhibition Stall

Altogether, 20 different organizations from government agencies, non-government organizations, private agencies and companies participated in the event. ENPHO, MuAN, Smart Paani, KMC, SNV Nepal, Pad to Go, Eco Concern, UEMS, Lumanti, RND Innovative Solution, Soil Water and Air Testing (SWAT) Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Miron Laboratory and Research Centre, Lamahi Municipality, Kathmandu University, Walling Municipality, Dhulikhel Municipality, Bhimdatta Municipality, Paschim Paaila, GiZ, SOPHEN, AEPC, UN-HABITAT and DWSS exhibited the stall and raise the awareness on WASH and their respective activities on WASH. During the stall, pad vending machine, home-made pad making training corner, rainwater harvesting models etc. were the major highlights of the event. More than 10,000 public visited the WASH Mela.

  

Drama

The enthusiastic youth volunteers from Paschim Paaila opted for the drama which reflected the message on current practices on faecal sludge and need for its proper management. The drama gathered the attention of more than 1500 public and delivered the message associated to it.

Documentary Show

A documentary show on faecal sludge management practice in ktm valley was played continuously in docu show corner. More than 2000 people observed documentary who visited at WASH Mela.

Informative Games and Quiz

‘Pictionary’, Arm Werstling and ‘Hit the Pad’ games was also conducted during the event.  The winners were given sanitary pad, soap, and sanitizer. More than 1000 people participated in the quiz and game and enjoyed the session.

Panel Discussion

In two day WASH Mela event, four sessions of panel discussion on issues of WASH associated with policy for FSM, priority of media in FSM, integrated solid waste management and FSM in urban area was held. The first panel discussion on “Necessity of FSM policy at Local Government Level” was held in facilitation of Mr. Kalanidhi Devkota, Executive director of MuAN in presence of panelists, Mr. Rudra Singh Tamang, Joint Secretory of Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration and Mayor Khadga Bahadur Khatri of Kamalamai Municipality, Sindhuli.  This session came up with the conclusion that FSM is still not a prime priority for municipalities despite of preparing with resources required for FSM. But making policy of FSM for proper management of Faecal Sludge (FS) can be possible with collaborative working approach connecting government bodies, non-governmental organizations, individuals and all relevant stakeholders. The second panel discussion on first day of WASH Mela was conducted on “Why Urban Sanitation (Faecal Sludge) Matters?” which was facilitated by Mr. Bipin Dangol, Executive Director of ENPHO in presence of panelists, Mr. Sanjaya Adhikari, FSM Expert, Mr. Suman Sharma, Former Secretary, Nepal Government  and Mr. Suresh Bam, Engineer, Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board. Discussion was summed up with key points with need of individual’s realization for waste management as also responsibility of general public which plays vital role in success and sustainability of any projects for sanitation. And using sanitation as indicator of development will escalate in possibility of safe and clean environment including clean Bagmati by 2030.

The two topics “Media Forum: Why WASH is not priority in News?” and “Integrated Solid Waste Management: Challenges and Solutions” were for panel discussion sessions in the event of day-2. For the first session, Mr. Bhushan Tuladhar, Environmentalist facilitated discussion session with panelists, Mr. Dilbhusan Pathak, Editor-in-Chief of Kantipur Television, Ms. Montessori Rajbhandari, Co-founder of Ujyaalo Radio Network, Mr. Kiran Nepal, Manager Himal Khabarpatrika and Mr. Himesh Bajracharya, Editor, Kantipur Daily. Similarly, Prof. Dr. Murali Gopal Ranjitkar, Chairperson of National Institute of Health and Environment (NIHE) facilitated the second discussion session with panelists, Prof. Bhim Shrestha, Kathmandu University (KU), Dhulikhel, Mr. Surya Man Shakya, Former Member Secretary, National Environment Council and Former General Manager (GM), Solid Waste Management Technical Support Center, Mr. Mitra Prasad Ghimire, Member Secretary, Solid Waste Management Association of Nepal (SWMA) and Director, NEPSEMAC Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. Updendra Khanal, Chief of Environmental Department, Dhankuta Municipality.

The first session on “Media Forum: Why WASH is not priority in News?” concluded with the key points as necessity of monitoring by environmentalists and experts on media and share information related to WASH to media personals. Furthermore, linking WASH with monetary value and politics can bring the issues on highlight making it focus of general public and priority of media. The conclusion for second session on “Integrated Solid Waste Management: Challenges and Solutions” came up with a need of aspiration for management of solid waste, as Dhankuta Municipality has set an example. Similarly, monitoring by government, budget allocation and working in collaboration is also required for integrated solid waste management.

WASH Mela was initiated as advocacy and campaign event by Paschim Paaila in 2014 on the occasion of World Water Day. The event was organized every year since 2014 in public spaces to raise awareness and sensitize general public on WASH led by youth which became national event this year and was organized on the occasion of World Environment Day 2019 and National Sanitation Week 2019 in lead collaboration with MuAN and ENPHO.
-Ms. Anita Bhuju

Celebrated World Water Day 2019

WASH Mela and Awareness Campaign

ENPHO and Paschim Paaila, on the occasion of World Water Day 2019, organized ‘WASH Mela and Awareness Camapaign’ at Barahatal Rural Municipality and Bheriganga Municipality, Surkhet from 18-22 March, 2019. The program was organized in collaboration with the project WASH SDG Nepal Implementation with support of WASH Alliance International (WAI). Five active volunteers of Paschim Paaila from Kathmandu were engaged for the program.

March 18, 2019-WASH Mela Stall at Baddichaur, Barahatal Rural Municipality

On the first day of week-long program, a stall was placed at Baddichaur of Barahatal Rural Municipality, Surkhet delivering information on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) with the key messages on use of safe water and sanitation. In stall, models of Eco-San toilet and rainwater harvesting were displayed along with posters and flyers. During the stall placement, volunteers also performed Flash Mob to attract the mass.

More than 52 community people along with Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Chief Administration officer, Ward President of Barahatal Rural Municipality of Ward -5 and government official visited the stall.

March 19, 2019-Orientation at School and Door to Door visit

On Second day, an orientation program at Jana Jyoti Secondary School and door to door visit campaign was organized. The orientation program was organized as basic WASH orientation program for students of class four and five and orientation on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) for students of class eight. Altogther 50 students participated on basic WASH orientation program and 50 students participated on MHM.

Apart from orientation at school, door to door visit campaign was organized to disseminate knowledge on WASH at households of Baddichaur, Barahatal Rural Municipality. More than 100 general public were oriented reaching about 22 households in the areas of Vyakune, Apaane and Saal ghari.

March 21, 2019- WASH Mela Stall at Jaghare, Bheriganga Municipality

On fourth day, WASH Mela stall was placed at Jaghare of Bheriganga Municipality. The WASH Mela stall focused on delivering the message on water purification options, importance of handwashing, models of rainwater harvesting and Eco-San toilet similar to the stall placement at Baddichaur. More than 80 general public visited the stall including women, children and old people. As feedback provided by participants of WASH Mela, the information disseminated were very fruitful as they still lacked knowledge on need of water purification for clean water to make it safe that could prevent them from diarrheal diseases.

March 22, 2019- WASH Mela Stall at Chhinchu Bazar, Bheriganga Municipality

On fifth day, WASH Mela stall was placed at Chinchu bazar of Bheriganga Municipality. General public were informed about WASH Mela stall through miking and door to door visit. Similar to fourth day, message related to water purification options, importance of handwashing, menstrual hygiene management, rainwater harvesting and Eco-San toilet was disseminated. Apart from stall, general public were informed by visiting hotels, shops and bus stands. More than 150 people were disseminated information through the stall and visit at door step.

A week-long event and campaign helped to raise awareness among general public including children, women and old, and government officials. The program grabbed the attention of general public and government officials for improving WASH status and motivated to have to step forward for total sanitation status of the area.

Facebook Photo Competition

On the occasion of World Water Day- 2019, Paschim Paaila and ENPHO organized Facebook Photo Competition. The competition was organized with an objective to mark the World Water Day-2019 and to spread message about World Water Day to leave no one behind with management of faecal sludge management for safe water through photos on social media.

Paschim Paaila and ENPHO called for submission of Photos with appropriate caption on the Theme “LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND: FAECAL SLUDGE MANAGEMENT FOR SAFE WATER” from 11 to 17 March, 2019. Selected 11 photos were shared on facebook of Paschim Paaila for competition of likes through 19 to 22 March, 2019. Three winners were selected from selected photos based on facebook likes and through judgment committee on 22 March, 2019.

The winners of Facebook Photo Competition are:

First Place- Ms. Deepkala Rai, Kepilashgadi, Khotang                                  

Do not let the slogan just remain on wall- proper manage of drainage along house is very essential.

                  Second Place Mr. Tarka Chalaune, Kamalbazar Municipality-5, Achham                         

Looking for Safe water through polluted source.

Third Place- Ms. Rita Malekar, Bholanchhen-6, Bhaktapur

If we disturb water cycle it will disturb our life cycle.

WASH mela on the occasion of World Water day and Water Week – 2014

WASH mela on the occasion of World Water day and Water Week – 2014

General public observing WASH mela 

Paschim Paaila in collaboration with Nepal Government, Lalitpur sub-Metro Politian city, UK-Aid, Oxfam and ENPHO under Urban disaster Risk Management (UDRM) Project successfully celebrated World Water Day and water week 2014 through “WASH mela” on 21^st and 22^nd March, 2014 at Patan Durbar square. The program was organized with main objective of raising awareness on importance of safe water during Emergency along with disseminating knowledge and information to local people on safe water, sanitation and hygiene, water quality, water resource management during emergency.

Street Drama on Disaster Risk reduction

The program was semi-formally inaugurated by guest of the program Mr. Shree Bhakta Basnet Project Manager Oxfam. There was huge public participation at “WASH mela” as the program was followed by various innovative and entertaining events. There was stall exhibition where different techniques and models like rainwater harvesting, DEWATS, POU options of water purification, ECOSAN toilet along with informative flex were exhibited. There was also photo exhibition showing diarrhea epidemic which occurred in west Nepal on 2009. People entertained snake ladder game; hit the germs game and quiz where they got to learn more about disaster risk management and also got lots of prizes by winning the games.

Participants playing Snake ladder Game 

Docu Show screening

Likewise there was also shown Docu-Show which disseminated message on Nepal’s current position in case of Disaster and steps that can be taken. Most of the viewers found the docu-show very heart touching and informative some of them also suggested expanding these kinds of programs to every parts of Nepal. 

The main event street drama grabbed attention of lots of public as the drama was on what can be the condition at post disaster in urban setting along with the consequences of unsafe water. People enjoyed every shows of drama performed by active Paailas of Paschim paaila. More than thousand public directly and indirectly benefited through Two days long “WASH mela” where more than 20 volunteers from Paschim Paaila actively involved.