A movement for water and sanitation – at least on the day!

Our Correspondent Sungratsu (Mokokchug), March 19 At least on the day, the people of Nagaland can remember water and sanitation are integral to life. As part of the one-week long National Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Awareness campaign, the Public Health Engineering division of Mokokchung district and Sungratsu Students’ Union organized an “awareness rally” at Sungratsu village on March 19. More than 200 students from Kobulong block participated in the rally. The rally was flagged off by chief medical officer of Mokokchung district, Dr SS Akaba Longchar as. In his speech, Dr SS Akaba stated that the communitized departments in the state namely the power, medical and education department are implementing various activities and programmes “successfully” with the coordination of village councils and the communities. Dr. Akaba also said that community participation was ‘the top most important’ part of implementation ‘to implement various programme at the grass root level for communitized departments.’ On drinking water and sanitation, the chief medical officer urged the village councils to ‘start practicing scientific method of waste disposal and maintain proper sanitation to contain epidemic outbreak of disease like Amoebiasis, diarrhoea and hepatitis in the villages.’ He also encouraged the village council and students not to use chemicals and pollute the streams and drinking water catchment areas but to make the village ‘free from diseases.’ The president of the Sungratsu Students’ Union, Imchalemba Walling, said that the “present scenario of mother earth is striving so hard to save humanity and is deteriorating worse day by day at a rapid pace, all because of human greed and selfish attitude.” He called upon the students and elders to “change the mindset and attitude toward our mother earth” and “start acting from grass root level, starting from our self, home, school and to the higher level.” An inter-school essay competition was held at the government primary school on March 18. Altogether 30 participants form different schools around the block took part in the competition. The first position for the competition was taken by Kilangbenla, while the second and third prizes were given to Tekanungsang and Lanusama, all from Clark Memorial Higher Secondary School, Impur. They were given certificates with cash prizes. Consolation prizes were also given to ten students. Meluri A campaign about spreading awareness on drinking water and sanitation was held in Meluri, Phek district, recently. A painting competition was organized by the Students’ Christian Fellowship of Meluri town under the students ministry of Pochury Baptist Church Council was conducted to mark the event. The event was held in collaboration with Public Health Engineering Department Phek Division on 18th March 2016 under the theme “Conservation and safe handling of drinking water and sanitary practice” in the auditorium of Meluri town’s government higher secondary school. Highlighting on the main purpose of the program, the executive engineer of the Public health Engineering Works, T. Imliakum spoke about the importance of water preservation. Saying that water was life, Imliakum reminded that ‘without water there won’t be life for human.’ The official urged the gathering to preserve water sources by keeping them clean and encouraged the community to use water judiciously. Emphasizing on personal and community hygiene, he also urged the gathering to keep their surroundings clean and stop open defecation in order to maintain a ‘healthy lifestyle free from diseases.’ A hygiene & sanitation consultant, Virhelie, also spoke based on the theme. Stressing on the importance of good hygiene and ‘wise utilization’ of water, he said one should practice ‘good sanitary life’ at the individual level ‘for good health.’ Stating that preserving water was every individual’s responsibility, he reminded the people that ‘one should start conserving water source by keeping it clean and do away with cutting of trees and stone quarry.’ Altogether 130 attended the program. The pledge for sanitation was administered by Z Mepingthu, coordinator of the Students’ Christian fellowship. A rally was carried out by the students after the programme. Sixteen students participated in the painting competition; Zupeng Phisugho of St. Xavier Higher Secondary School was adjudged the winner in the senior category. The second prize went to Muvche of Government Middle School while the third prize went to Gloria of Government Middle School. In the junior category, Awoshim of Christian Mission School was the winner; Shevehu of government higher secondary school and Yalu Pfunu of St. Xavier Higher Secondary School bagged the second and third prizes respectively. A cash prize and a certificate each were awarded to the winners. The National Rural Drinking Water & Sanitation Awareness Week was observed in Mon town as well. The event was conducted in the town’s council hall, on March 18. President of the KNSK, B. Lomei Konyak was the chief guest of the event. Lomei Konyak, in her short speech, appealed to the students to learn from the program and disseminate and share with others what they have learned from the program. She asserted that 70%-80% of various human diseases were related to waterborne diseases due to lack of proper sanitation and safe drinking water. She urged the students to focus more on development of sanitation and safe drinking water ‘besides other development’ because they relate to human health and wellbeing. In his keynote address, the executive engineer of the Public Health Engineering division of Mon, Leyang Khiamniungan, highlighted the importance of observing the event. He said that the National Rural Drinking Water & Sanitation Awareness Week was a national program to create awareness about sanitation and safe drinking water. He said students were being targeted to attend the program “because they are the future and an important source of disseminating information to their friends and parents back at home.” Stressing on conservation of forest, he said that deforestation and jhum cultivation cause shortage of drinking water. He urged the students and teachers to encourage adopting trees and plant them. He also emphasized on sanitation and hygienic living ‘with reference to the Holy Bible.’ Resource person for the event, Watinaro spoke about the importance of water and human health. Around one thousand students including teachers from various schools and college attended the rally. After the program, the students marched from the venue to the helipad in the twon holding banners and placards.