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ROCH Organizes Sanitation Campaign (Monrovia, 2/05) The Restore Our Children's Health (ROCH) has organized a sanitation campaign team for public awareness in Monrovia. ROCH is a local NGO is involved in community health education and children welfare.

PM to give awards for rural sanitation to Panchayats (New Delhi, 2/05) As part of the government's emphasis on encouraging rural sanitation, the first 'Nirmal Gram Puraskar' will be given by Prime Miinister Manmohan Singh on February 24 for best sanitation facilities to 40 Gram Panchayats totalling Rs 13 mn.

State closes medical school over sanitation (Kisumu, 2/05) The Kisumu Medical Training Centre has been closed on health grounds. Panic gripped students and tutors yesterday after the Government ordered it shut. The centre has more than 800 students. The Provincial Medical Officer of Health, Dr James Gesami, directed the institution to be closed until it complies with health standards.

Inhabitants to Improve on Hygiene and Sanitation (Cameroon, 2/05) Twenty-five workshop participants drawn from different walks of life have agreed that the best way to improve on the hygiene and sanitation of South West towns is to educate the citizenry to collect refuse regularly and dispose of it at fixed points for vans to transport to garbage sites.

Physicians Order Told to Contribute in Basic Sanitation (Angola, 1/05) The Physicians Order should contribute in partnership with the Government in searching for solutions for the basic sanitation of the great urban centres, which are the main sources of diseases. The appeal was made by the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, João Lourençao, who was speaking on Monday in Luanda at the opening of the First International Congress of Angolan Physicians, who stressed that "this is a fight of all of us, not only for the municipal administrations or Government".

New report calls for simple solutions to global sanitation crisis (New York, 1/05) A new report from the UN Millennium Project has presented an operational plan for halving, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. In the same week, a UNICEF conference warned of the effects poor sanitation can have on the education of those in the developing world and how this in turn affects development in those countries.

OECD Calls for More Aid, Used More Effectively, to Bring Safer, Healthier Lives (UK, 1/05)

Note the third to last paragraph which points out that this Development Co-operation Report contains a special focus on the need for more aid directed towards supplying water and sanitation. Overall, donors are committing less to the water sector than in past years, and more still goes to fund urban infrastructure in middle income countries than to marginalised communities which suffer most from lack of clean water.

World Water Day 2005, 22 Mar 05
World Water Day marks launch of new Decade of Action – Water for Life. World Water Day marks the start of a new UN International Decade for Action on water. The Water for Life Decade 2005-2015 will give a high profile to implementing water-related programmes and the participation of women. The UN hopes that the Decade will boost the chances of achieving international water-related goals and the United Nations Millennium Declaration. For more information visit: International Water and Sanitation Centre or UNESCO.

People in Northern Ghana show lukewarm attitude towards sanitation
(Tamale, 7/04) There are indications that bad sanitation practices in Northern Ghana are impeding the achievement of the 90 per cent target in the acquisition of domestic toilets for individuals and families as envisaged in the National Sanitation Policy document. Mr Philip Anladomo Kwaku Zori, Principal of the Tamale School of Hygiene made this observation at the second annual "Sanitation Week" celebration of the School in Tamale on Tuesday.

Solving sanitation problem is the beginning of poverty reduction
(Tamale, 7/04) The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, has observed that a drastic reduction of poverty among the citizenry was the panacea for the compounding sanitation problem

Handwashing program decreases incidence of diarrhea among children in Pakistan
(Chicago, 6/04) An intensive program of handwashing education and promotion in Pakistan decreased the incidence of diarrhea by more than 50 percent among children, according to a study in the June 2 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), a theme issue on Global Health.

Sanitation on Agenda at UN Conference in Jeju
(Japan, 3/04) The 8th Special Session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) kicked off Monday at the Jeju International Convention Center. With “water and sanitation” on the agenda during the three-day schedule, it is the first ministerial-level UN environment conference to be held at an Asian country. Environment ministers from 102 countries, government representatives of 158 countries, delegates from 50 international organizations and 100 representatives of private environmental organization are attending this year’s council.

Poor sanitation a huge killer of children, UNICEF says on World Water Day
(New York, 3/04) More than 5,000 children die every day from diarrhoeal diseases, often in areas hit by man-made or natural disasters, the head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says in a message to mark World Water Day, whose theme this year is water and disasters.

ADB readies $100m for Rawalpindi environment, sanitation
(Islamabad, 3/04) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to provide $100 million in the current year as a part of its environment improvement plan for Rawalpindi. The first phase of the plan has already been completed and the second-phase feasibility report for better sewerage and sanitation facilities and clean drinking water to the citizens is underway.

Anambra to Prosecute Sanitation Fees Defaulters
(Lagos, 3/04) The Anambra State government is to set up a sanitation court to prosecute defaulters of sanitation fees. Commissioner, Special Duties, Chief Chris Atuegwu made this known yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen on the programmes of his department. He said the decision of government to set up the court was informed by non-compliance of many residents of the state to pay sanitation fees, a situation he said had affected the revenue base of the administration.

Policy on sanitation would be operational this year -JAK
(Accra, 1/04) President John Agyekum Kufuor announced on Thursday that a National Sanitation Policy would become operational this year with emphasis on: Inspection, Compliance Enforcement, Hygiene Education and Pest Control.

Medair providing emergency sanitation assistance in Bam
(Switzerland, 1/04) Medair has commenced emergency assistance to the citizens of Bam, Iran, following the devastating earthquake on 26th December. Perhaps the worst earthquake in over 15 years, it killed up to 41,000 people, while injuring 30,000 more, and leaving 75,000 homeless. Most of the surviving population are still living in tents, amongst the ruins of their former homes.

Attitudinal change is key to sanitation problems - Outgoing Accra Mayor
(Accra, 1/04) Mr. Solomon Offei Darko, Outgoing Mayor of Accra on Saturday said until the attitudes of people change and was prepared to live a disciplined lifestyle; every effort to solve the sanitation problem in the city would not materialise. "I have always said that the problem of sanitation in the city is first and foremost attitudinal and if we don't change this attitude of indiscriminate littering around even when litter bins have been provided, we would not achieve any result," he said.

Lagos Government Seeks Public Support On Environmental Sanitation
(Lagos, 11/03) Ahead of its scheduled commencement of the maiden environmental sanitation on November 8, 2003, Lagos State government has solicited support of the people of the state especially members of the media, in the formidable task of improving the quality of the environment in the state.

China to Improve Public Sanitation Utilities
(Zhuhai, 11/03) Chinese Minister of Construction Wang Guangtao said here Friday that China will further increase investment in public sanitation and infrastructure construction so as to ensure better service in urban and rural areas.

Local Government Invests US$7 Million In Basic Sanitation
(Cabinda, 11/03) The Government of Angola’s Northern Cabinda province has invested about USD 7 million in the management, removal, and handling of solid residues plus local basic sanitation here, in an operation starting on Wednesday.

Sanitation is Not a Dirty Word!
(Sri Lanka, 11/03) Despite sustained efforts both by the government and civil society in Sri Lanka, sanitation is still a loser with regards to island-wide coverage of sanitary facilities. 14 percent of the population has no sanitary toilets and only 38 percent have water seal latrines in their homes.

Sanitation: 18 Held for Flouting Laws
(Lagos, 11/03) No fewer than 18 people were apprehended by corps of the newly introduced Kick Against Indicipline (KAI) by the Lagos State Government which commenced operations across the state yesterday. The people were arrested for flouting environmental laws including indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the high way.

Sanitation services installed in Sebokeng
(Johannesburg, 11/03) Impoverished areas around the district of Sebokeng, south of Johannesburg, have existed on the doorstep of a major economic hub, without any trickle down of the benefits of South Africa's macro-economic stability. Residents of areas like Orange Farm and Evaton have for years suffered without basic services such as electricity and sanitation. Now, nearly 10 years after democracy, sanitation services are finally being rolled out to residents in these areas.

Sanitation coverage in South Asia only 39 percent
(Dhaka, 10/03) Only some 39 percent of the population in South Asian countries have adequate sanitation facilities at present, and Sri Lanka bears the highest coverage rate of 83, while Afghanistan the lowest as 12. This was revealed at a three-day South Asian Conference on Sanitation SACOSAN) beginning here Tuesday to discuss regional state of sanitation and hygiene, and generate political commitmentthat prioritizes regional policy and targets.

World Bank Pledges Support for City Sanitation
(Nairobi, 11/03) The World Bank has pledged Sh1.2 billion grant for the improvement of water and sanitation services in Nairobi. The money will be used for institutional restructuring and development of Nairobi water services utility.

Sanitation related deaths take devastating turn
(Dhaka, 10/03) Experts and activists on Tuesday warned that sanitation related deaths took a devastating shape in South Asia blaming the scenario on low investment and lack of priority as a three-day regional sanitation conference began here. "Low investments in the sector, weak political will and enormity of the task itself" are main reasons for the slow progress in achieving the goal of ensuring access of all to safe drinking water and sanitation, said Vanessa Tobin, chief of Water and Sanitation of UNICEF at the inaugural session.

Town Lacks Sanitation
(Nairobi, 10/03) Bomet Municipal Council was yesterday challenged to provide essential sanitary facilities to its residents to avert disease outbreaks. Waterborne diseases such as typhoid are common among residents due to lack of a proper sewerage system in the town.

South Asia's Hygiene in Focus
(Dhaka, 10/03) The SACoSan conference has begun in Bangladesh on the dismal state of the region's sanitation. It will discuss why millions of children continue to die in the region because of unsanitary practices.

10,000 Households, Schools Receive Sanitation Facilities
(Zambia, 10/03) Over 10,000 households and schools were provided with sanitation facilities in 2002 under the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (WASHE), an envoy has said.

Market Leader Rallies Women for Sanitation Exercise
(Lagos, 10/03) Worried by the frequent demolition of shops and stalls in her area over poor environmental sanitation by the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation, Iyaloja of Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Market Women Union, Chief (Mrs.) Bintu Adesina, has promised to organise her members to clean up the market so as to avoid incessant demolition of shops in the area.

Punjab Govt Yet to Release Funds for Sanitation Project
(Chandigarh, 10/03): The Rajiv Gandhi Rural Sanitation Project launched by Punjab government with much fanfare on his birth anniversary this year has proved stillborn as no funds have been released for it so far.

Gbese Traditional Area Attends to Sanitation Needs
(Accra, 10/03) The Chiefs and people of Otuopai in Accra on Saturday undertook a clean-up, as a prelude to the 5th anniversary of the enstoolment of sub-chiefs and queen mothers in the area, which falls on the November 22.

SACoSan Conference
(Dhaka, 10/03) From October 21st to 23rd, hundreds of representatives from ministries, the public and private sectors, civil society, external support agencies, academia and the media will meet in Dhaka, Bangladesh, for the South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACoSan).

WHO Releases Five-Year Review of Environmental Sanitation (pdf)
(WHO, 9/03) Over the last 50 years, WHO has generated, evaluated, and shared new knowledge on safe disposal of excreta, sewage, and community waste. It has been at the forefront of exploring the linkages between environmental pollution and change and people's health and livelihoods. This publication documents the history and experiences of WHO's involvement in environmental sanitation.

Hand Washing with Soap Could Prevent Death
(General News, 9/03) Statistics from the Ghanan Ministry of Health has revealed that 84,000 people die of diarrhoea related cases each year with 25 percent being children under five years. Most of the causes of diarrhoea, which could be prevented by proper sanitation and hand washing with soap, are often ignored and taken for granted by the public.

South African Sanitation to Cost R700m per Annum
(Business Day, 9/03) South Africa is to spend R700-million a year for the next three years on providing sanitation, which should also create 50,000 jobs in that period, says Water Affairs Minister Ronnie Kasrils.

Government will ensure sanitation for all by 2010
(Dhaka, 9/03) The government of Bangladesh will ensure sanitation for all by 2010 instead of 2015 as 57 percent people of the country still remain out of sanitation service.

Sanitation and Cleanliness on Railways
(PIB, 9/03) Indian Railways have taken various initiatives to launch Operation Cleanliness since August 15, 2002 following the Prime Minister’s announcement to this effect on the Independence Day.

Deadline for sanitation coverage refixed
(Daily Star, 9/03) LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday said the government has refixed a 2010 deadline for countrywide sanitation coverage advancing the earlier one by five years.

It Stinks: Sanitation for ‘Us’ and ‘Them’
(Islam Online, 8/03) According to [SPARC], “Men, women and children in Indian cities are sitting by the millions, not in toilets at all, but along roadsides and railway tracks, on footpaths, in empty lots, between buildings, over drainage nalas, in makeshift privies of sticks and gunny sacking and in the dark in-between places which great cities are full of, in the early morning, late night or at high noon. They are shouted at, molested, exposed to indignities, dumped-on, insulted. Nobody would endure these things if they had a choice. For most, the choice of where to relieve themselves is not a choice at all, but a total lack of other options. Either no toilets are available, or if there are, they are in such bad shape that squatting in public becomes preferable.”

School sanitation and hygiene education TOP
(IRC, 7/03) A schoolchild educated to the benefits of sanitation and good hygiene behaviour is a conduit for carrying those messages far beyond the school walls, bringing lasting improvement not only to his or her health and wellbeing, but also to that of the family and the wider community. It is difficult therefore to over-emphasise the importance of school health and hygiene education.

Understanding advocacy, social mobilisation and comunication
(McKee 1993) In this overview the authors follow a well-tested approach that sees advocacy as part of a wider continuum of a communication process, that includes social mobilisation and programme communication.

Hygiene Promotion
(IRC) Effective hygiene promotion reduces the main risky hygiene practices and conditions for women, children and men. It does so in a measurable way, to a significant level, in a pre-set period and within available resources. This TOP discusses several aspects of hygiene promotion.

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