Children play vital role in sanitation

Children chanting slogans and campaigning for sanitation in Nawdabash union in Hatibandha upazila. The photo was taken recently. PHOTO: STAR

Even three months back, defecation in open space, environmental pollution and prevalence of water-borne diseases were common in the area.

But the scenario changed rapidly following a joint programme by the Union Parishads (UPs) and Dhaka Ahsania Mission with assistance from World Bank and Plan Bangladesh.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Incidence of diseases among the villagers has been reduced.

The unions will be formally declared fully sanitised at a function there on December 31.

Different promotional activities such as community meetings, courtyard meetings, school sanitation programmes, religious leaders' orientation, rallies, miking, postering, collaboration with local government initiatives and clubs played an effective role to promote sanitation in the entire union.

According to Hatibandha upazila coordinator of Dishari project Md Masum Hossain, Nawdabash union Facilitator Md Shahidul Islam and Nawdabash union coordinator of Plan Bangladesh Afroza Khondker, children played a vital role in motivating the people. They monitored the Decentralised Total Sanitation Project (Dishari) activities efficiently. When they detected anybody defecating openly, at once they blew whistle and assembled fellow children. They chanted slogans against this. They displayed their names in public places. Children also brought out processions chanting different health and hygiene related slogans to make people understand about sanitation. They staged street dramas, held rallies regularly to make the programme a success.

Hatibandha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jyotirmay Barman played an important role in succeeding the programme.

Along with 10 unions of Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat, nine unions of Sripur upazila, Gazipur and six unions of Khansama upazila in Dinajpur were also brought under the programme.

Following success of the Dishari project, its geographical coverage was extended to 12 unions of Chirirbandar in Dinajpur, 12 unions of Jaldhaka in Nilphamari and 11 unions of Chowgachha in Jessore.