Bhutan: International Sanitation Day observed

On 12 April students from the capital Thimphu performed dances and skits with the theme “Sanitation Matters” to observe International Sanitation Day/World Water Day. Cash prizes were awarded for the best slogan and posters. Celebrations had been postponed from 22 March because of Bhutan’s first general elections.

Diarrhoea and dysentery still feature among the top five diseases in Bhutan (pop. 682,000). According to the 2007 health bulletin, there were 25,563 cases of diarrhoea, afflicting children under five years of age. With safe water and sanitation coverage exceeding 80 per cent, diarrhoea, common cold and skin infections remain the three leading causes of infant and child mortality, just as they did when the coverage levels were below 50 per cent.

The development of water and sanitation facilities has long been a government priority. His Majesty the Fourth King proclaimed that water and sanitation was a basic right for every Bhutanese citizen in his Royal Edict of 1992. Currently, a Draft Water Act is being finalised. UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP) and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation are among the development agencies active in the water and sanitation sector in Bhutan. WFP is channelling funds to UNICEF for school sanitation. SNV plans to implement a Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programme.

Related web sites: IRC - World Water Day : UN – World Water Day

Contact: UNICEF Bhutan, thimphu@unicef.org, ; WFP Bhutan Country, WFP.Thimphu@wfp.org ; SNV Regional Office Asia, contact page

Source: Tandin Wangchuk, Kunesel Online, 17 Apr 2008 ; Kencho Namgyel, Programme Officer UNICEF, Kunesel Online, 22 Mar 2008

Keywords

• Water-related diseases
• Sanitation - On-site sanitation
• Information and communication
• Sanitation - School sanitation