Coordinated initiatives needed to ensure safe water and sanitation: CCC Mayor
Collective initiatives by government-private organizations, development agencies and communities are essential to ensure safe water and effective sanitation for city dwellers, said Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain.
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the second phase-out workshop of the “WASH for Urban Poor” project organized in Chattogram on Tuesday.
The project, implemented with financial and technical assistance from WaterAid Bangladesh and implemented by the Disadvantaged Health Centers (DSK), started in April 2023 and is being completed in March this year.
Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain said that sanitation and safe water are very important for protecting public health in the city. The risk of various diseases is increasing due to the uncontrolled environment and ignoring hygiene rules.
He said, “We need to build an integrated system for health protection, where the City Corporation, administration, development agencies and the general public all work together.”
He gave an example, saying that public health protection is possible as toilets have been built for citizens in the stadium area of the city and in the Patenga sea beach area. If toilets are built in such populated areas, people will benefit and the environment will improve.
At the workshop, Babul Bala, Program Lead of WaterAid Bangladesh, gave a presentation on the achievements and activities of the project.
Speaking as a special guest, Ashraful Amin, Secretary of CCC, said that the project has been successfully implemented by looking at the quality and aesthetics of the work of DSK and Water Aid. In the future, the common people will benefit more if they work in densely populated areas, excluding hilly areas.
The workshop, chaired by M. A. Hakim, Director of the WASH Department of DSK Dhaka, was moderated by Arefatul Jannat, Project Manager of the Disadvantaged Health Center (DSK).
Representatives from various organizations including CCC, Chattogram WASA, Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Department of Social Services, Department of Women’s Affairs, Thana Education Office, Police Administration, Pharmacy representatives, School and Madrasa representatives, NGO representatives, Victim Support Center, CBO representatives, Hygiene Hawkers and volunteers participated in the programme.
