WASH Leadership Hiking 7th Series at Nagarjun Height

On the occasion of World Toilet Day 2013 Paschim Paaila organized hiking at Nagarjun Height. There were 90 energetic hikers from various institutions and parts of Kathmandu valley to celebrate World Toilet Day. The Resource person for the event was Mr. Himmat Singh Lekali. The main objective of the event was to learn with Fun on WASH issues and to boost the Leadership among the participants. The event was full fun with many leadership activities and WASH knowledge. The participants of the event were divided into four group named as Water group (Blue), Sanitation group (Red), Hygiene group (Green) and Rapid Responders (Orange) respectively.

The event was facilitated by Mr. Buddha Bajracharya. The whole day event included WASH quiz, balloon game, some games of rope etc. which were facilitated by Lekali Himmat Singh, Buddha Bajracharya and Roshan Chaulagain. Since there were some games, adding all points of each group, Sanitation group was declared as winner of the event. The event also included sharing of Mr. Lekali's motivational speech.

During the hiking the Hikers enjoyed the natural beauty of the Nagarjun Height. At the beginning of the Hiking some of the participants felt tired but as soon as all the participants reached top of the Nagarjun and viewed the mesmerizing Mountains just right in front of them all the tiring moments were forgotten. The whole hiking was package of fun with learn, so the hikers found the event very much fruitful and motivational.

Written By: Ms. Urmila Lama

Deusi Vaailo for School-WASH (SWASH) Campaign-2070

On the auspicious occasion of Tihar festival 2070 Paschim Paaila organized two days Deusi Vaailo Program on 1^st and 4^th, November 2013. The program was organized with a motive to develop good fellowship and strengthen bonding between the Paailas of Paschim Paaila and different supporting organizations and individuals; likewise the next main objective was raising funds for the effective conduction of School-WASH (SWASH) campaign.

 After the successful completion of the Construction of Community level (2000 liters) Bio-sand filter at Pathivara Tole, a Peri-urban squatter community in Kapan VDC of Kathmandu district with the fund raised from "Vaailo for Cause-2069". This year as well Paschim Paaila successfully organized "Deusi Vaailo for School-WASH (SWASH) Campaign-2070". Therefore, to disseminate information regarding WASH among school going students, youth of Paschim Paaila Played Deusi Vaailo at the aagaan of different organization and individuals.

There were more than 25 energetic Paailas involved for the grand success of Deusi Vaailo Program. The program was facilitated by Mr. Buddha Bajracharya Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila. The contributors for Deusi Vaailo Program were ENPHO, CEN, Mr. Om Prasad Gautam, Mr. Murali Gopal Ranjitkar, Mr. Rabin Bastola with whom Paschim Paaila played Deusi Vaailo with great fun and entertainment.  

Deusi Vaailo was played with informative Deusi Vaailo songs, Drama and various single, free and group dances which created very delightful environment at the aagan of all the organizations and individuals.  While asking about feeling regarding the Deusi Vaailo Program with Event Coordinator for Deusi Vaailo Ms. Urmila Lama, she said," I am very much happy with the success of this program and would like to thank all the Paailas for their service above self, really youth power is greater than all."  

"Food Hygiene Practice in Nepal; an Experience from Formative Research" WASH Forum 25th Series

WASH Forum 25^th series was conducted at ENPHO hall on 30^th August 2013 on topic "Food Hygiene Practice In Nepal; An Experience from Formative Research" with an objective is to share the knowledge and experience of formative research on food hygiene; and analyze critically on issues of food hygiene and its practices in Nepal.                  

Mr. Om Prasad Gautam, Public Health Expert of Nepal, Principal Investigator (PI) and from London school of hygiene and tropical medicine (LSHTM) was the key speaker for Discussion forum with 35 energetic youths from Public health, Environment science and Social science sector. Mr. Gautam shared his knowledge and experience regarding the interventional research recently being implemented at Baluwa and Naya Gaun VDC of Kavre District among the mothers having children's between 6 month and under 5 years. Mr. Gautam highlighted the importance of Food hygiene in all levels, especially for children's.  He motivated the youths to spread awareness of Food hygiene as it is one of the most important health issues in the present scenario in our country.

Mr. Gautam said that "changing behavior is very hard .It depends on the nature of setting. The old methods of raising awareness are not suitable, the approach and Setting should be known before implementation." Formative research on food hygiene matters as diarrhea is still 2^nd largest killing disease which is directly linked with food hygiene. He told the new idea for awareness.

In his slides he included the factors contributing for foodborne infection the previous and present changes in food hygiene handling practices of mothers after the interventional research and implementation of behavior changing approaches. The whole session was very much interactive and informative; the youth got to learn many new approaches and information. There was also shown short video regarding the critical times where mothers neglected the proper Hygiene Practices. He also introduced how the behavior of people can be changed in effective way.

Mainly question rose about the formative research regarding sustainabily, effect of education on food hygiene. He replied that it would be implemented in 4 district of Nepal. If it becomes effective then it would be implemented in other places. VDC, FCHVs will contribute in it. He told that Behavior of people affect in food hygiene. Which should be changed and they should be motivated to be ideal mother. 

The programme was then concluded by one of the supportive Paaila Ms. Susmita Paudel former Advocacy Coordinator. Overall program was facilitated by Mr. Roshan Chaulagain and the program was ended with group photo and interaction with participants.