CHT sanitation coverage still remains a far cry

Despite Bangladesh achieving a remarkable progress and worldwide appreciation for success in sanitation coverage, the same coverage in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) has still remained a far cry, reports BSS. According to public health experts, a sustainable sanitation system is a must to ensure a desired development of people’s lifestyle as a whole specially in three districts of the CHT where the inhabitants are still facing hurdles to get benefits of improved hygienic facilities.
There are also challenges regarding sustainability, hygiene issues and total sanitation coverage as recurrent extreme climatic events like floods and cyclones damage sanitation facilities, lowering the coverage in climate vulnerable, remote, char, haor, coastal belt and hilly areas.
“Some 74.59 percent people have come under sanitation coverage in Khagrachhari district while 60 percent in Bandarban and 90 percent in Rangamati enjoy the facilities,” according to a data revealed by the Public Health Engineering offices of the CHT.
Talking to BSS, executive engineer of Bandarban District Public Health Engineering Department Sohrab Hossain, who is also in charge of Khagrachhari district, said the present government has taken different pragmatic steps to ensure a sustainable development of the sanitation coverage in the hill region.
He said the sanitation sector has in the meantime experienced many successes in the hill districts but the achievement is less than that of the plain land due to geographical reasons.
“Inadequate improved sanitation facilities are the key barrier to a sustainable health development in hilly areas. The sanitation facilities earmarked for the hilly people usually don’t reach the doorsteps of the target groups properly” Sugat Chakma, a teacher of Dhighinala School, said.
He said, apart from government’s initiatives, some non-government organisations (NGOs) used to work on sanitation in the CHT region earlier,  but they are not seen at present.
He, however, said the present scenario of sanitation is very positive and it would be more fruitful if the authorities concerned could positively involve local elected representatives in the process.
The government should increase allocation of sanitary latrines and other latrine materials at affordable prices to ensure a sustainable health development in the areas, Sugat added.
Improved sanitation is one of the priorities of the incumbent government.
Besides, the United Nations General Assembly regarded sanitation as one of the human rights.
The sanitation sector faces several hurdles such as water scarcity in some areas, quality of service and covering hard to reach areas like hilly regions, chars and tea gardens. Only 35.8% families have improved sanitation facilities in the hard to rea

CHT sanitation coverage still remains a far cry

Despite Bangladesh achieving a remarkable progress and worldwide appreciation for success in sanitation coverage, the same coverage in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) has still remained a far cry, reports BSS. According to public health experts, a sustainable sanitation system is a must to ensure a desired development of peoples lifestyle as a whole specially in three districts of the CHT where the inhabitants are still facing hurdles to get benefits of improved hygienic facilities. There are also challenges regarding sustainability, hygiene issues and total sanitation coverage as recurrent extreme climatic events like floods and cyclones damage sanitation facilities, lowering the coverage in climate vulnerable, remote, char, haor, coastal belt and hilly areas. Some 74.59 percent people have come under sanitation coverage in Khagrachhari district while 60 percent in Bandarban and 90 percent in Rangamati enjoy the facilities, according to a data revealed by the Public Health Engineering offices of the CHT. Talking to BSS, executive engineer of Bandarban District Public Health Engineering Department Sohrab Hossain, who is also in charge of Khagrachhari district, said the present government has taken different pragmatic steps to ensure a sustainable development of the sanitation coverage in the hill region. He said the sanitation sector has in the meantime experienced many successes in the hill districts but the achievement is less than that of the plain land due to geographical reasons. Inadequate improved sanitation facilities are the key barrier to a sustainable health development in hilly areas. The sanitation facilities earmarked for the hilly people usually dont reach the doorsteps of the target groups properly Sugat Chakma, a teacher of Dhighinala School, said. He said, apart from governments initiatives, some non-government organisations (NGOs) used to work on sanitation in the CHT region earlier, but they are not seen at present. He, however, said the present scenario of sanitation is very positive and it would be more fruitful if the authorities concerned could positively involve local elected representatives in the process. The government should increase allocation of sanitary latrines and other latrine materials at affordable prices to ensure a sustainable health development in the areas, Sugat added. Improved sanitation is one of the priorities of the incumbent government. Besides, the United Nations General Assembly regarded sanitation as one of the human rights. The sanitation sector faces several hurdles such as water scarcity in some areas, quality of service and covering hard to reach areas like hilly regions, chars and tea gardens. Only 35.8% families have improved sanitation facilities in the hard to rea