International Year of Sanitation (IYS) Cambodia

Transcription

1 National Launching International Year of Sanitation (IYS) Cambodia In Cambodia IYS (International Year of Sanitation) was nationally launched in Kampong Speu Province on 24 January Participated by 75 Community Pre-School Children and their parents, the ceremony was presided by HE Yim Chhai Ly, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Rural Development and Chairperson of the Technical Working Group for Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, HE Mrs Khhim Chan Roeun, Secretary of State, Ministry of Women's Affairs and the then UNICEF Representative, Dr Suomi Sakai. Key development partners including DFID, WSP-World Bank, UNDP, UN-Habitat, national and international NGOs also participated - a total of approximately 300 people. Four national TV stations and local newspapers covered the event which also featured the famous comedian, Mr Chabb Chean, who has been appointed the National Sanitation Messenger. The event was subsequently publicized in the national media, radio, television as well as newspaper (scanned copies of articles attached). In her remarks, Suomi, stressed the importance of learning to practice hygiene behaviour particularly using toilet and washing hands with soap from the early stage such as through the community pre-school sessions. She referred to the National Rural Sanitation Forum in November 2007 where the Prime Minister called for a nationwide focus on sanitation and emphasized the important role the community has in making this happen. She said that the International Year of Sanitation is a good opportunity to put the Prime Minister's recommendations into practice. HE Mrs Khhim Chan Roeun echoed Suomi's statement of the importance of promoting hygiene practices among young children and reminded parents to continue to lead by demonstrating hygiene practices by themselves. She mentioned that mothers have a critical role to teach children hygiene practices. HE Yim Chhai Ly stated that the International Year of Sanitation could not be more timely for Cambodia. The first National Rural Sanitation Forum was successfully launched in November 2007 where the Prime Minister gave a number of recommendations for accelerating sanitation and hygiene improvement in the country. The International Year of Sanitation - which was officially declared to start in Cambodia on 24 January will provide opportunities for continuing efforts at the national and sub-national level to advocate for rural sanitation and hygiene improvement. HE Yim Chhai Ly also reiterated the national target for rural sanitation which is to increase the coverage from16% to 30% by 2015 Ministry of Rural Development - the Ministry mandated with rural sanitation and hygiene improvement leads the implementation of the IYS activities in Cambodia. A number of national and sub-national level activities have been implemented in collaboration with relevant Ministries such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women's Affairs, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports as well as various development partners. A brief description of the progress to date as well as future plans is given below. 1

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3 UNICEF Cambodia Welcomes IYS The entire staff of UNICEF Cambodia also participated in welcoming IYS 2008 during the staff retreat which took place at the end of January IYS activities to-date Following the launching, a series of activities have been implemented as follows: Provincial advocacy meetings o 14 out of the total 24 provinces have participated in Provincial Sanitation Advocacy meetings. Each meeting was attended by either the Governor or Deputy Governor of the Province, representatives of the entire Commune Councils, representatives of all the Districts and Heads of Provincial line departments. o Chaired by the Secretary of State who is also Chairperson of the Technical Working Group for Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, the meetings present an overview of the country s sanitation situation including comparison with the neighbouring countries, IYS messages and speeches the chairperson as well as representatives of development partner agencies such as UNICEF, WHO, WSP, and key NGOs. 3

4 Publicity on sanitation and hygiene. o A series of publicity on sanitation issues has appeared on the national TV and channels through talk shows and on newspapers through interviews and organized visits to communities that have succeeded in improving their sanitation condition. Scanned copies of a number of these articles attached. o The first issue of national sanitation newsletter was published by MRD in June 2008 o A documentary of rural sanitation and hygiene is currently being developed by MRD with technical and funding support from the Lien Aid Foundation from Singapore; Sanitation Road Show o A series of exhibition and performance by the national sanitation messenger (Comedian Mr Chhab Chean and his team) in 5 provinces to promote sanitation and hygiene; Participation of children and youth o Children attending 890 Community Pre-Schools managed by the Ministry of Women s Affairs in the six UNICEF supported provinces participated in the launching of IYS and subsequent sanitation and hygiene education activities; o Primary school children from 11 provinces participated in marking the 15 October Global Handwashing Day organized by MOEYS (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports) and MRD (Ministry of Rural Development) as part of IYS activities; o Cambodia Girls Guide Association has actively participated in marking IYS by integrating sanitation and hygiene and promotion into their on-going activities including the Girls Guide Thinking Day on 22 February and International Children s Day 1 June Inter-sectoral collaboration o Sanitation and hygiene promotion as part of the dengue prevention campaigns was conducted as a collaboration between MRD and MOH in May and June 2008 o Collaboration with MOEYS and MOWA as described above see also a case study on inter-sectoral collaboration contributed by Kampong Thom Province 4

5 Cambodia Girls Guide celebrate IYS in June 2008 Commune Council Chiefs from Kampong Cham Province studying the sanitation information panels displayed during provincial advocacy meting on 25 February 2008 Note : More pictures in the attachment. Videos and hard copies of publication also provided 5