RAJSHAHI, Feb 7: Speakers at a workshop here on Wednesday laid emphasis on ensuring safe drinking water, hygienic sanitation system and other arrangements at schools to build a healthy nation.
They said achieving universal access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and improved hygiene, and progressively improving the level and quality of services are essential steps on every country's journey to securing good health for its citizens.
The observation came at the review workshop styled "National standards of Water Sanitation Hygiene for Schools in Bangladesh" at Master Chef Restaurant in the city. Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) and Shaw-Unnayan jointly organised the workshop in association with WaterAid Bangladesh. The workshop discussed ways and means on how to improve health and learning standard of the students.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Shalahuddin and Associate Professor Rashed Kabir from Department of Finance and Banking in Rajshahi University addressed the discussion as chief and special guests respectively with Shaw-Unnayan President Mustafizur Rahman Khan in the chair.
Executive Engineer of Department of Public Health Engineering Md Rokanuzzzaman, Assistant Director of Department of Non-formal Education Anwar Kamal, Upazila Education Officer Ahsan Ara and CAMPE Programme Coordinator Dr Mustafizur Rahman also spoke. During her keynote presentation, Rajoshry Gayen, Deputy Programme Manager of CAMPE, highlighted the aspects of ensuring safe water, sanitation and hygiene in the educational institutions.
The workshop discussed various issues to pursue the government for ensuring universal access to safe drinking water without arsenic contamination, quality sanitation and hygiene promotion in schools.
Md Shalahuddin said the government has been taking initiatives for ensuring safe drinking water and development of sanitation sector through budgetary allocation.
