EMN
Peren, March 19
The Public Health Engineering Division of Peren district has also launched the National Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Awareness Week. The event was launched in the government higher secondary school in Peren town where teachers and faculties and students from various schools attended. The campaign will conclude in Kohima on March 22 also commemorating World Water Day.
The action plan for the week-long awareness campaign was highlighted to create awareness in the village across the district on issues related to drinking water and sanitation such as building or use of toilets, keeping the villages and towns clean, safe handling and use of drinking water, awareness of quality of drinking water, water conservation, community managed water supply systems in the rural areas.
The activity would involve grass root institutions such as the WATSAN committees, Anganwadi, ASHA workers, schools teachers, women self help groups and youth organizations.
Speaking during the occasion, Executive Engineer of the PHED P Khetoi Sema stressed on building or use of toilets, employment of best practices of sanitation, personal hygiene and the importance of washing hands with soap. He underscored the need to create awareness among the masses about conservation of water resources and active participation of the masses in issues associated with safe drinking water.
He also encouraged students to take an active part in the sanitation drive. They can be the messengers to spread the message to rural population, he said.
Mon
In connection with Sanitation Awareness Week, a workshop on National Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation was held at council hall, Mon on March 18. Medical Officer of Mon Civil Hospital, Dr. Ngampa, and SDO (PHED) of Tobu Toshi Yimchunger were the resource persons.
Speaking on the topic “Water and Sanitation related Diseases and Prevention”, Dr. Ngampa informed the participating WATSAN committees of the villages that more than 80% of diseases are waterborne and advised them to keep their surroundings neat and clean by adopting safe drinking water, proper drainage and toilet system to avoid water related diseases.
Asserting that water is one of the most essential parts of the living organism, he called upon the gathering for conservation of forest and to adopt plantation drive at their respective areas and cited, “No trees No water, No Water No life”. He said we should not be scared of diseases but rather we should be scared of contaminated water and at the same time we should fear for scarcity of water. He appealed to the people to propagate the importance of the workshop to the public back in their respective community and villages.
