CHT sanitation coverage still a far cry -The Asian Age
Despite Bangladesh achieving a remarkable progress and worldwide appreciation for success in sanitation coverage, the same coverage in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) has still remained a far cry. According to public health experts, a sustainable sanitation system is a must to ensure a desired development of people's lifestyle as a whole specially in three districts of the CHT where the inhabitants are still facing hurdles to get benefits of improved hygienic facilities.
There are also challenges regarding sustainability, hygiene issues and total sanitation coverage as recurrent extreme climatic events like floods and cyclones damage sanitation facilities, lowering the coverage in climate vulnerable, remote, char, haor, coastal belt and hilly areas. "Some 74.59 percent people have come under sanitation coverage in Khagrachhari district while 60 percent in Bandarban and 90 percent in Rangamati enjoy the facilities," according to a data revealed by the Public Health Engineering offices of the CHT.
Talking to BSS, executive engineer of Bandarban District Public Health Engineering Department Sohrab Hossain, who is also in charge of Khagrachhari district, said the present government has taken different pragmatic steps to ensure a sustainable development of the sanitation coverage in the hill region. He said the sanitation sector has in the meantime experienced many successes in the hill districts but the achievement is less than that of the plain land due to geographical reasons.
"Inadequate improved sanitation facilities are the key barrier to a sustainable health development in hilly areas. The sanitation facilities earmarked for the hilly people usually don't reach the doorsteps of the target groups properly" Sugat Chakma, a teacher of Dhighinala School, told BSS. He said, apart from government's initiatives, some non-government organisations (NGOs) used to work on sanitation in the CHT region earlier . .. but they are not seen at present."
He, however, said the present scenario of sanitation is very positive and it would be more fruitful if the authorities concerned could positively involve local elected representatives in the process. The government should increase allocation of sanitary latrines and other latrine materials at affordable prices to ensure a sustainable health development in the areas, Sugat added. Improved sanitation is one of the priorities of the incumbent government. Besides, the United Nations General Assembly regarded sanitation as one of the human rights.
The sanitation sector faces several hurdles such as water scarcity in some areas, quality of service and covering hard to reach areas like hilly regions, chars and tea gardens. Only 35.8% families have improved sanitation facilities in the hard to reach areas, according to an official data. The present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina enhanced investment in safe water supply and sanitation sector. Taka 4,113 crore was allocated for water and sanitation activities in 2014-15 fiscal year while it was Taka 4,619 crore in 2015-2016 financial year.
UNICEF says children are the worst victims of waterborne diseases specially diarrhea. In Bangladesh about one lakh children under-five die of diarrhea each year affecting country's overall development. But of the affected children as well as the people of remote hill areas are more than that of the plain land and even today many of hilly people don't well-aware of sanitation, the school teacher mentioned. Meanwhile, a government report said Bangladesh has tremendously developed the overall sanitation scenario as about 90.06 percent citizens are getting sanitation facilities at present. - BSS