National Symposium on Communicating Water Quality - Challenges and Opportunities stressed on the need to guarantee Safe Drinking Water to All
The National Symposium on Communicating Water Quality concluded by putting emphasis on the need to guarantee safe drinking water to all citizens. During the programme, the experts recommended that with rise of qualitative issue of the drinking water there is a dire need of strengthening of water quality analysis facilities. They also stressed on the need to promote proper sanitation facilities and hygiene education parallel with the water supply scheme to reduce water borne diseasesn . To read more, click here.

GLASS Report Mentions about Nepal’s Functionality Survey
GLASS Report 2010 by UN Water mentions an attempt made by Nepal to count among its achievements national water and sanitation coverage and functional status survey completed in 2008 and a rural water supply and sanitation monitoring and evaluation process that has been established and working here. To read the report, follow this link.
http://www.unwater.org/downloads/UN-Water_GLAAS_2010_Report.pdf  
 

Functionality of rural water services attracted attention of stakeholders
IThe participants of the workshop on functionality of rural water services agreed that the functionality problems are a constraint in achieving full access to lasting and reliable water supply with the minimum required quantity, quality, continuity and distance. At the end UNICEF, WaterAid, WASH-RCNN and SNV in principle agreed to indicate their interest in supporting Government initiatives to take the theme of Functionality of Rural Water Supply Services further. To read more, click here. To read more, click here

WASH-RCNN at International Symposium on Rural Water Services
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene-Resource Centre Network Nepal (WASH-RCNN) in association with Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MPPW), Nepal presented poster on ‘Functionality of Rural Water Services in Nepal’ at the International Symposium on Rural Water Services held in Kampala, Uganda from 13-15 April. To read more, click here

 WASH Media Fellowship 2010 application deadline extended
WASH Media Fellowship 2010 application deadline has been extended till 19 May 2010. WASH-RCNN (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene-Resource Centre Network Nepal) in association with Nepal Node for Sustainable Sanitation/Environment and Public Health Organization (NNSS/ENPHO) and Voice/Action/Vision (VAV) had announced this fellowship on 22 March. This fellowship will provide financial and technical support for selected 22 Nepali Journalists (at least 4 from the print media and 6 from digital media - at least 4 from radio and 2 from TV) to conduct in-depth research and publish/broadcast news stories or features on interesting case studies on WASH issues, particularly from remote areas where the eyes of the media rarely reach.
Download the fellowship guideline and application form at: http://www.nepal.watsan.net/page/522 
 

Diarrhoeal Diseases in Nepal: Risk Factors and Prevention Measures

Availability of adequate safe drinking water is one of the most basic of human needs for well-being and productive life. Health hazards caused by unsafe drinking water are recognized as one of the major problems in developing countries. Most of the water supply systems in Nepal both in urban and rural don’t have basic water treatment facilities. This has resulted in to frequent reports of faecal contamination in drinking water and outbreaks of waterborne diseases, particularly in monsoon. According to Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD)/Department of Health Services (DOHS) of the Government of Nepal, the epidemic that began in early May 2009 recorded nearly 80,000 diarrhoeal cases and claimed over 300 lives, the most affected was Jajarkot, hilly district in the Mid-west. Government and several national and international non-governmental organizations carried rapid response programme during the crisis phase of the epidemic. Disappointingly, the outbreaks of diarrhoea and some deaths in Jajarkot, Kanchanpur, Baitadi, Dailekh, Tanahun etc. have been reported with the onset of summer 2010. The government, concerned authorities and stakeholders should take this as a warning bell and show serious concern to take precautionary steps for mitigation and control measures through effective collaboration and coordination among WASH sector stakeholders. Hence, it is high time to plan and act for prevention of outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases keeping in mind the saying: ‘Prevention is better than cure!’.

Article by: Makhan Maharjan, Senior Programme Manager, Water Quality Programme, Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO). To read the full article, click here.