The New Nation - Internet Edition

BANGLADESH has set a target of achieving 'Sanitation for All by 2010' as against the Millennium Development Goals of halving the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation by 2015. So far notable success has been achieved in this respect. In the late 1970s, national sanitation coverage in the country reportedly was only two percent, while open defecation or use of hanging latrines were widespread. In the early part of the 1980s, the government moved to change the situation. The sanitation for all campaign was started in 2003. According to a public health department survey in June 2005, 43 percent of people were found to use some sort of covered-pit latrines. The present sanitation coverage is stated to be 85 percent.

Mere sale or installation of sanitary latrines, however, does not mean sanitation coverage. Sanitation has been defined as an access to covered-pit latrines in which faeces are kept isolated from environment, including safe disposal of children's faeces, proper hand-washing. Though the use of sanitary toilets appears to have increased significantly, most people do not seem to be fully conscious about related hygienic practices. A part of the population including slum dwellers does not have adequate access to sanitary facilities. Moreover, having a sanitary latrine does not necessarily mean its use by all members of a family.

Concerted efforts by the government and NGOs have started improving sanitary practices of the people. Messages on sanitation have reached people at the grass-roots level. Because of production of sanitary latrines at affordable costs all over the country, poor families can also buy them. Another two years are still left before the expiry of the time set for achieving the goal. All efforts should be made to achieve the target.