OPEC Fund approves safe water and sanitation scheme

The OPEC Fund for International Development has approved a grant of US$ 350,000 in support of an initiative that aims at providing safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to four districts of Nepal.

Created by the United Nation’s Children's Fund (UNICEF), the scheme is expected to reduce the incidence of water-related diseases and raise the overall quality of life for some 70,000 men, women and children, a statement by the OPEC Fund said.

Many homes and schools in Nepal, particularly those in rural areas, lack access to basic sanitation and potable water supplies. As a result, thousands of individuals, particularly children, perish each year from waterborne illnesses such as typhoid, cholera and dysentery.

Women are forced to spend a large part of their day fetching water, a chore that is also expected of young girls, thus preventing them from attending school. Water-related diseases also hamper the productivity of small farmers and other wage earners, thereby hindering the country’s socio-economic development, the statement said.

In response to this situation, UNICEF, in cooperation with the appropriate Nepalese ministries, will carry out works in four districts – Panchthar and Udayapur located in the east, and Humla and Achham situated in the west of the country.

A total of 350 water supply schemes will be either newly installed or rehabilitated, directly benefiting some 35,000 people. In addition, at least 35,000 children at 200 schools will enjoy access to clean drinking water and separate, modern sanitation facilities for boys and girls.

Child Clubs will be established in each school, comprising groups of around 40 pupils. Equal numbers of boys and girls will learn how to promote good hygiene practices both at school and home. Water quality testing will be carried out on all new and repaired schemes, and communities will be equipped with reliable and affordable water treatment options such as chlorination, filtration and solar disinfection devices.

To insure the sustainability of the initiative, capacity-building and training for some 4,200 technicians will be undertaken at a district level, the statement said. nepalnews.com by Sep 22 05