Regional Workshop on Ecosan
WHO regional office and ESS jointly organized a regional workshop on eco-san, held from September 22-25, 2008 at Kathmandu on the occasion of IYS-2008. The IYS-2008 Nepal Desk did all preparatory works in close coordination with WHO and DWSS. Representatives from Bhutan, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor Leste gathered in Kathmandu, Nepal and reviewed the state of sanitation in the South-East Asia Region (SEA) and shared experiences about the approaches and challenges they face in promoting sanitation program.
The workshop began with the inaugural session. This session was chaired by Mr. Raj Kumar Malla, Director General of DWSS. Extending a warm welcome to the foreign delegates, local participants and the invitees to the inaugural session, Mr. Bishwo Mani Gyawali, Deputy Director General of DWSS also highlighted the main goal and the specific objectives of the workshop. Speaking as the chief guest of the session, Mr. Purna Kadariya, Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, expressed gratitude to WHO SEAR office and WHO Nepal for organizing the workshop in Nepal, which would be very fruitful to all countries in the region.
As a keynote speaker, Dr. Suwit Wibulpolprasert, Senior advisor on Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand shared his experiences on sanitation and health in Thailand. Dr Alexander Andjaparidze, WHO representative to Nepal, delivered the message from Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director, World Health Organization, SEAR. Mr. Suman Prasad Sharma, Joint-secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works chaired the Panel Discussion "Political commitments made during earlier SACOSAN/EASAN meetings". He expressed his opinion that the political commitment is not enough if it can not be translated into the actions.
Mr. Madan Malla and Mr. Thakur Pandit jointly presented the country paper of Nepal. They briefly highlighted the sanitation situation, IYS-08 country plan and programs, program approaches, key actors in this sector, challenges, achievement and lessons learnt. Similarly, a paper on "Decentralized Waste Water Treatment" was presented by Mr. Keshav Raj Bista. Mr Prem Krishna Shrestha, DWSS, Nepal presented a paper "Application of Ecological Sanitation in Nepal" that briefly described the process of introducing urine diverting toilets in the typical Newar farmer community of Kathmandu. A presentation about the "School Led Total Sanitation and Community Improvement Program" in Majhgaun Darechowk, Village in Chitwan District made by Mr Shreerendra Pokharel highlighted the improvement of sanitation in the village by the school children's effort with the support of DWSS/WHO.
A Mela/fare for the purpose of information sharing (posters, books, brochures, booklets, flip charts-all about water and sanitation were on display) was held. Various governmental and non governmental agencies participated in this Mela. IYS-2008 Desk took part in the Mela. Participants from different countries found the stall of the Desk informative; and took curiosity to know about Nepal's initiatives.
Overall program was facilitated by Mr. Han Heijnen from WHO-Nepal who also presented a paper "Concept and WHO guidelines on safe use of excreta, wastewater and grey water in agriculture and aquaculture".
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